The Error Of Balaam – Making Profit From The Work Of The Lord – Part 1 Jude 1:10-11b Series

THE ERROR OF BALAAM – MAKING PROFIT FROM THE WORK OF THE LORD – PART 1 Jude 1:10-11b

{{Jude 1:10 “These men revile the things which they do not understand, and like unreasoning animals, they are destroyed by these things which they know by instinct. Jude 1:11 Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”}}

Last time we looked at Cain and Korah. Jude speaks about the way of Cain and the rebellion of Korah, and these two incidents were linked with the vile false teachers, likened to unreasoning animals by Jude, and to those who follow their animal instincts. Earlier he called them accursed children, and dreamers, defilers of the flesh, and rejecters of God’s authority. When writing to the Galatians after the false teachers had caused havoc in the churches of Galatia, Paul said this to them – {{Galatians 1:8 “Even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed,”}} and for good measure, he repeated it. God has no tolerance whatsoever for any deviation from His gospel and to His declared truth.

There are three parts to verse 11; two are done and today we look at Balaam. We are going to see just what sort of man this fellow was. I might say that this message is probably longer than my usual speaking time, so I may hold some of it off until next time. You will need to turn to the passages, as I intend reading quite a bit of Numbers and other sections. Before we begin, we need to note what Jude said – “rushed headlong into the error of Balaam” and we intend to expose that error. It is a serious error, and many are contaminated with that same error today.

When Jehovah delivered the Jews from Egypt, we see every possible means of attack against them by the devil who wanted to destroy the holy people so that the seed, that is Christ, would not be born because His death and resurrection spells the defeat for Satan. The devil tried to destroy them by grumbling and complaining, by immorality, by rebellion, by false prophets, and by disobedience. They are but few of the devil’s weapons. On this occasion with Balaam, he raised up a foreign power to attempt total ruination for the Israelites. Let us now look at the passage and I will comment while we go along. We begin our reading in Numbers chapter 22.

[A]. THE SETTING

Numbers 22:1 “Then the sons of Israel journeyed and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. Num 22:2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.”

Num 22:3 Moab was in great fear because of the people for they were numerous and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel, Num 22:4 and Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field,” and Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. Num 22:5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. Num 22:6 Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed,”

Numers 22:7 so the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him. Num 22:8 He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me,” and the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. Num 22:9 Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” Num. 22:10 and Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, Num 22:11 ‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” Num 22:12 God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You shall not curse the people for they are blessed,” Num 22:13 so Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land for the LORD has refused to let me go with you,”