fredlott63

Balaam

Balaam is covered in Numbers chapters 22 - 25 and 31:8. The children of Jacob are blazing a trail through the Middle East as they defeat every army they encounter. When they get to Moab, Balak the king gets scared. So he goes to Balaam, who is a prophet, and offers wealth and stuff to curse Israel. Balaam wants the wealth and stuff. God initially tells Balaam not to go with them, but Balaam really wants the stuff, so God lets him go. But God is angry and an angel blocks Balaam’s path. Balaam’s donkey sees the angel and sits down but Balaam does not, thus Balaam gets angry and beats the donkey. The donkey miraculously begins to speak and asks questions that .make Balaam think. (God appeals to intellect. When you argue with a jackass and the jackass is making sense , you are on the wrong path). Then Balaam sees and talks to the angel. Balaam never curses the children because God won’t allow it. Balaam still wants the stuff. If the children of Jacob start worshiping idols, God may curse them Himself or let him do it. We can look at the life of Balaam through scripture.
Immediately after Balaam the children of Jacob start having sex with Moabite women and worshipping their Gods.
Balaam was motivated by greed.
The bible blames Balaam for Israel’s idolatry.
Balaam died fighting on the side of the Midianites
The doctrine of Balaam was the downfall of Pergamus in Revelation
The error of Balaam is found Jude.
The idea we need to understand is that a man of God is not motivated by wealth.