Why study Balaam? Because the story of Balaam is as relevant today as any
other time in history. Just as prophets like Balaam existed in Moses' day,
people exist in the Church today with a striking similarity. Today the apostasy
of Balaam is everywhere. It fills the pulpits of churches all over
the world. Unlike Balaam, however, these people do not have the luxury
of a talking donkey to awaken them from their own apostasy. Unless they have
a near-death experience or some other shock to wake them up, most of them
continue to operate as Balaam in the power of the Cosmic System. They don't
know the meaning of grace. They have no concept of experiential sanctification,
and they slaves to devil's world.
The story of Balaam is one of the classics of infamy. Balaam,
who was a worldly celebrity before his dealings with Israel during
the Exodus wanderings, received over three chapters in the book of
Numbers in the Torah. Balaam was a famous diviner from the region of
Babylon, current Iraq. After Balaam's betrayal of Israel, his treachery
was recorded from the beginning of scripture (Numbers and Deuteronomy) to
the end (Revelation). It could be said that Balaam was a monumental figure,
who betrayed Israel for fame and fortune.
Balaam was a Gentile prophet, whose prophesies are recorded in scripture.
He even predicted the Star of Bethlehem. However, his love of the world became
the source of his infamy. Balaam loved money, prostitution, and worldly fame.
He was famous as a soothsayer, who would pronounce a curse for money.
The Mosaic Law strictly prohibited these practices, but then, Balaam wasn't a
Jew. He was a Gentile. Balaam was a dichotomy who spoke with the authority of
God at times and used the power of demonism at other times.
Balaam was the classic case of the worldly prophet. He was so overcome by
worldliness that his values reflected not the Righteousness of God but the
corruption of the lusts of the flesh. When the lusts of the flesh replace the
love of God, the believer travels down the path of reversionism. Balaam was the
epitome of the reversionist. He is the classic example of a person who knew the
right way, but rejected it to pursue the Frantic Search for Happiness of worldly
lusts.
When prophets or Church Age pastors enter into reversionism, they are doubly
destructive. Not only do they hurt themselves, but they lead others astray.
Balaam was responsible for the death of 24,000 Jews. He was the pawn of Baal.
He was the friend of anti-Semitism, the unfaithful servant, and corrupt prophet.
His reversionism was so perverse, that his own donkey was used to preach him a
sermon in an attempt to restrain his reversionistic insanity. His infamy was so
great that throughout history the mere mention of the name Balaam was a cause for
insult. In the epistles to the Church, Peter uses him as an example of the
reversionist, and the Lord Jesus Christ uses him as an example of the apostasy
in the Church at Pergammon (Revelation 2:14).
Reading: Numbers 22,
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