How are “the way of Balaam;” “the error of Balaam” and “the doctrine of Balaam” are reflected in today’s culture? 525 - 9 - 5

Per CM there are three errors of Balaam:

• “Way of Balaam”: making religion his source of wealth.

• “Error of Balaam”: attempting to oppose God’s will and curse Israel

• “Doctrine of Balaam”: marriage with the world.

“Way of Balaam”:

2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” Very descriptive today’s mega-churches leaders. As an example, Joel Osteen’s net worth of 40 million. [http://net-worths.org/joel-osteen-net-worth/] Joyce Meyers is a very entertaining motivational speaker, however, short on biblical truth. There are several others in the mega-churches who have gone the way of Balaam, an exception being David Jeremiah who stays with Biblical truth.

“Error of Balaam”:

Jude 1:11, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” There are those who are redacting the Bible. An example is The Message by Eugene Peterson. Mr. Patterson changes Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (KJV) to “Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth.” Mr. Pearson has added to the verse and exchanged the concept of my Redeemer to a more imprecise God and the latter-day for eventually.

Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and pastor at Saddleback Church has promoted Chrislam, something in my opinion that is an insult to both Christians and Jews. Pope Francis is courting the Eastern Orthodox Church trying to bring them under the umbrella of the Roman Catholic Church, can you say the coming one world religion? But I digress.

“Doctrine of Balaam”:

To the church at Pergamos, Revelation 2:14, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

Balak, king of the Moabites, feared the Israeli so he sent messengers to Balaam and asked him to curse Israeli. Balaam was a soothsayer, a “prophet for profit,” for hire. He agreed to use his ability contrary to God’s will.  God intervened. Numbers 22:12, "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."

At first Balaam refused to curse Israel but money is money so he eventually traveled to Moab. On the way, Balaam had a conversation with his donkey who saw an angel blocking their path. As it turns out whenever Balaam tried to curse Israel it came out as a blessing them in accordance with God’s word. Finally, he used the doctrine of Balaam, “to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel,” to cause them to be unfaithful to God so He would then “turn His hand against them.”

As an aside, God can use something meant for evil for good. Balaam was paid to curse Israel and instead blessed her with a Messianic prophecy. Numbers 23:17, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”