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"Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel - Rev. 2:4
Balaam observed the letter of God's law, but utterly violated the spirit of it. He was not allowed to curse. He blessed in words, but at the same time he counselled Balak how to induce the people to sin, so that they might be cursed.
He is an outstanding illustration of an attempt to divorce religeon from morality. His religeon was intellectual and outward, not moral and inward. It never reached his heart and conscience, it never touched his spirit. His prevailing motive was the lust of gain. He gave God's blessing in words, but brought God's curse through inducing them to sin. Num. 25:1-9
We come to the last chapter in Balaam's story. "Let me die the death of the righteous", he had said but he was not prepared to live the life of the righteous. Moses last achievement was to stamp out idolatry and sensual sin, and we read that Balaam also they slew with the sword' Num.31:8. He knew the truth but was not obedient to it.
So again and again throughout the bible we have the story of Balaam referred to - Joshua. 13.22. Josh. 22:9. Neh.13:2. Neh.22:5.
2.Peter:2.15. Jude.11. Rev.2:14.
It can be summed up in that message to the church at Pergamos: "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast them there that hold the doctrine Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel".
A man who accepted the authority of God who knew what was his duty: but when temptation came, instead of at once casting it on one side, he dallied with it, and one by one the checks and restraints which God had put in his way as an hedge about him, to keep him in his path and his will, were brokendown.
Balaam observed the letter of God's law, but utterly violated the spirit of it. He was not allowed to curse. He blessed in words, but at the same time he counselled Balak how to induce the people to sin, so that they might be cursed.
He is an outstanding illustration of an attempt to divorce religeon from morality. His religeon was intellectual and outward, not moral and inward. It never reached his heart and conscience, it never touched his spirit. His prevailing motive was the lust of gain. He gave God's blessing in words, but brought God's curse through inducing them to sin. Num. 25:1-9
We come to the last chapter in Balaam's story. "Let me die the death of the righteous", he had said but he was not prepared to live the life of the righteous. Moses last achievement was to stamp out idolatry and sensual sin, and we read that Balaam also they slew with the sword' Num.31:8. He knew the truth but was not obedient to it.
So again and again throughout the bible we have the story of Balaam referred to - Joshua. 13.22. Josh. 22:9. Neh.13:2. Neh.22:5.
2.Peter:2.15. Jude.11. Rev.2:14.
It can be summed up in that message to the church at Pergamos: "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast them there that hold the doctrine Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel".
A man who accepted the authority of God who knew what was his duty: but when temptation came, instead of at once casting it on one side, he dallied with it, and one by one the checks and restraints which God had put in his way as an hedge about him, to keep him in his path and his will, were brokendown.
