BALAAM PROPHET OF GOD? OR SOOTHSAYER?

Balaam is a very interesting character, and he is held up to us in the scriptures in both Old Testament and New, as a warning. He is a perfect example of the cunning of Satan, and his ability to completely deceive the unsuspecting amongst God’s people.

Balaam was a false prophet, and is called a soothsayer in Josh. 13:22. The lexicon says that the Hebrew word means a Diviner, (one who uses and communicates with evil spirits). Yet he claimed that Jehovah was his God, and that he could never go against His command. This should be a solemn warning to us, lest we too are beguiled, as was Eve our mother. (2Cor. 11:3-15.) Balaam’s deception was so complete, that even today there are Bible Teachers who still regard him as a genuine, even if a fallen and misguided prophet of God.

Believers tend to be so gullible today, and so many are willing to accept the wild claims made by heretics and presumptuous men as genuine. They tend to judge by their feelings, and by the hallucination of what seems to be the blessing experienced by mass-movements. The only way to test the spirits as we are commanded in 1John 4:1-3. Is to observe what they emphasize. To see whether they constantly exalt the person and work of Christ. Or whether they exalt the person who is their medium of communication. Whether those who make such claims are after money, fame or popularity. The only way to assess whether a thing is right or wrong, is not by what people claim, nor by our feelings but by what the word of God says.

Balak the king of the Moabites was faced with a very great problem: The people of Israel, God’s people were camped in the plains of Moab. There was a very great crowd of them, probably more than two millions. They had conquered kings who were more powerful than himself and he knew that he could not defeat them with his army. They were a spiritual people, and he knew that if he were to defeat them, it would have to be in the spiritual realm.

He had heard of a very powerful soothsayer, who had power to cast spells, and to pronounce curses, and his spells and curses seemed to work. Though Balaam lived in Mesopotamia, a very great distance from his own place, his fame as a sourcerer had spread throughout the Middle East. He felt that he must bring him to the land of Moab. He hoped that he would be able to curse the people of God, because only then would he be able to destroy or to conquer them. It seemed also that he was on good terms with the Midianites, who like the children of Moab, were descendants of, or relatives of Abraham. I say this because it says that Moab consulted with the Elders of Midian, as if they were also sojourning with the Moabites.

At their council meeting it was decided to send messengers to Balaam, with the rewards of divination, (witchcraft or black magic), in their hands. They went also with flattering words, (false prophets love to be flattered and applauded), to try to fetch the powerful man to Moab. The Elders of Moab and Midian made the long journey to Pethor, and made their proposal to the great man. Balaam saw the rewards in their hands, and his wicked heart coveted that. He loved the rewards of unrighteousness. However Satan (whose servant he was) must have revealed to him that the people that they wished him to curse, were no ordinary people; they were Jehovah’s own people.

Balaam had a craven fear of Jehovah, because he had some knowledge of His awesome power. His fear of Jehovah was not based on love for Jehovah, not even on reverence or respect for the mighty God.. He was afraid of what may happen to him if he dared to go against the word or will of that Almighty God. However he requested the elders to stay overnight, so that he may see if Jehovah would speak to him, and what He may say. Perhaps this was the only time that he had ever sought permission from Jehovah to do anything, but this was a special case, as these were a special people.

During the night God came to Balaam and asked him who the visitors were, and what was their erand. We may ask, "did not God know who they were, and for what purpose they had come?" Of course He did, Israel were His people,He was concerned for their welfare, He had set His love upon them. He had gone after them to redeem them, which He did by the blood of the Passover Lamb. In asking these questions God was searching the heart of this wicked man, and revealing it for all mankind to see, ever afterwards.

Balaam stressed the importance and dignity of the men and their mission. After all, they were the descendants of Abraham and of Lot. He used all his cunning to try to gain God’s permission to go with them, and thus to receive the rewards of unrighteousness which he loved. He also stated that they had come out of Egypt, which he knew to be a pagan land, and which God had already visited in judgement. However to his great disappointment, Jehovah refused to grant the permission that Balaam had hoped for. And revealed to him that those people were under His blessing and protection. Balaam was not to curse them, because God had blessed them.

The following morning, with great disappointment he had to tell the Elders, that God had refused him permission to go with them.. The Elders returned with the message that Balaam had refused to come with them. Perhaps Balaam knew that his refusal would in time reap him a greater reward. It turned out just as he had perhaps hoped. More honourable princes were sent, and a greater number of them. They were instructed to offer even greater rewards, and promotions. Balak in effect was offering a blank cheque to Balaam, a cheque drawn on the Royal Bank of Moab.

Though doubtless greatly attracted by the rewards offered, yet Balaam professed to belong to Jehovah, (which he did not). He told that no matter how great the rewards offered, yet his craven fear of the Almighty Jehovah would prevent him from doing what he really wished to do. Still he would have one more try, to see if Jehovah would relent. No doubt Satan (his master), had heard God pronounce judgement on the unbelieving people when they rebelled at Kadesh Barnea. Perhaps God would change His mind! He clung to that hope.

God came to Balaam again during the night. He did not ask Balaam again who the men were, or for what purpose they had come. But grudgingly gave him permission to go with them, but warned him that he was to say only what God gave him to say, or the consequences would be terrible, for Balaam.

Now Balaam was happy, he rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. The glitter of the rewards the gold, the honour danced before his eyes, and made him unaware of the terrible dangers that confronted him.

We may wonder, why did Jehovah give him permission to go. Did He not know what the outcome of it all would be? Yes of course He did, but though He takes no pleasure in judgement, (it is His strange work Isaiah 28:21.), yet righteousness must be fulfilled, His pronounced judgement must fall, though it grieved Him so much. The way that the false prophet grasped the opportunity, to make himself rich, even though it meant the sacrifice of thousands of lives, made God angry. He came in angelic form to be an adversary to the soothsayer. The tables were turned now, because the name Satan, means adversary. However, so bright did the promised gold of Balak glitter in his eyes, it dazzled him to such an extent, that he could not see Jehovah standing with a sword drawn ready to slay him.

His poor ass, that had served him so faithfully ever since he had owned it, could see what the one who boastfully claimed to be a "man of opened eye" could not. It turned aside into the field, thereby saving the deceiver’s life, but only received punishment for her kindness. Further on when confronted with the Angel and the sword, the ass crushed Balaam’s leg against the wall, only to suffer once more for her kindness. Then in a narrow place: where there was no escape from the sword of the angry Jehovah. The poor creature then lay down under Balaam, only to be beaten again by the enraged fool. At this point Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and enabled it to speak with the voice of a man. But even this was not noticed as anything unusual by the false prophet, so bent was he on his errand of mischief.

A dialogue followed between the prophet and the ass. The poor dumb ass, seeking to show the unreasonable and cruel character of the prophet’s actions. The Sorcerer fuming out his anger and threatening to kill the faithful animal that had done nothing more than save the false prophet’s life. However his anger turned to fear, when God took the prophet’s eyes off the reward he fancied awaited him, and opened them to the terrible danger in which he was. In craven fear, Balaam bowed his head, and fell flat on his face. Jehovah had witnessed the cruelty of the deceiver towards the faithful donkey. (Just as He observes the cruelty of men to animals today).

Balaam was terrified, and was convicted of his sin, of covetousness, and his willingness to sacrifice the lives of so many, all for a passing reward. He told that he would return to his place, if his going displeased the Mighty God. However justice must be done. God’s proclaimed righteous judgement must fall upon His unbelieving, rebellious people. God knew very well that the prophet would never enjoy the reward that he so craved for. God knew that the prophet would never again return to his house. God knew that the wicked man would be slain by the swords of the very people he wanted to curse. However God pointed out to him that the way he was taking was perverse, (for ruin), before Him, yet He allowed the prophet to go on, to reap the harvest that awaited him. However God took the opportunity to warn Balaam that he was to be careful to say only what God gave him to say.

Thus it was that with renewed fear, he went with the princes of Balak. I wonder what they were thinking all this while? Even if they did not see the Angel of the Lord, yet they must have heard the dumb ass speak. They must have heard God speak to Balaam, and the false prophet speak to God.

On arrival he was welcomed by Balak, who rebuked his hesitance in coming. But Balaam was quick to confess that the power of Jehovah was greater than any power that he had wielded, though that power was truly great. The power of evil was here restricted by the power of God, which was so much greater.

The whole drama began with a feast, the sacrifice of sheep and oxen, prepared by Balak, for Balaam and the princes. Balak then took his guest to a place where he could see all the camp of Israel. From here he would look down on the people. It was one of the high places of Baal, the pagan god of the seasons. He was in effect looking through the devil’s eyes. He resorted to black magic, seeking divination from the entrails of the sacrificial animals. Seven animals of each sort, bullocks and rams were offered, but not to Jehovah. There was but one sacrifice that was acceptable to Him, and only one place where that sacrifice could be offered;- the brazen altar that stood in the court of the Tabernacle.

When Balaam opened his mouth to speak, God made him to say things that he never intended to say. God put the words in Balaam’s mouth, and he was too terrified to do anything but utter them. His parables are beautiful, and they revealed both God’s appreciation of His redeemed people, and his own inner longings. He was compelled to confess that Israel was blessed by God. He was compelled to admit that they were to be a separate people. Dwelling alone, not to be reckoned amongst the nations. And he revealed his great desire that he himself might die the death of the righteous. This was never to be, because he died the death of the wicked man that he was. The sight of Israel camped around the Tabernacle. The sight of the pillar of cloud on the Tabernacle, was just too much for him. Balak of course was very angry, the powerful man had done just the opposite to what he had hired him to do.

Balak then reasoned that there might be a way to bring down the curse of God on His people. So he took Balaam to another place, from where he could only see those who lived at a distance from the Tabernacle, the fringe-dwellers. Sad to say, there have always been such, and there are such today, in the Church at large, or even in the local Church. There are those who are Christians only in name, and whose lives are a dishonour to God. People who bring the name of the Lord Jesus into reproach, who cause the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. If the false prophet saw only those, perhaps God would give him leave to bring the curse.

The Pagan ritual was repeated, the altars built, the animals offered, but to no avail, God would not allow the devil to bring a greater curse on even the worst of His people. When Balaam opened his mouth, he could only praise the faithfulness of God to the word that He had spoken. That word had promised blessing to His people, and nothing could change that. There is a lovely verse in 2 Tmothy 2:13, which says that "If we are unfaithful, He abides faithful, for He cannot deny Himself", (J.N.D. Trans.) In spite of seeing only the fringe dwellers, still he could not curse them. God saw no iniquity in Jacob, because they had been redeemed by the blood of the passover lamb. (See Rev. 12:11.) They were destined to be the head of the nations, because the shout of a King was amongst them. They had not come out of Egypt, they were not tarnished by the defilement of that Pagan nation, God had brought them out. They at last would manifest the royal character of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The All victorious one, who turneth not aside for any

Balak was disgusted, he wanted that the prophet should not bless or curse the people. However there remained just one more possibility. He would take him to yet another vantage point, where Balaam would see the waste, the wilderness, the place where they had wandered for forty years, where all their base ingratitude, the rebellion of their sinful hearts was shown. Perhaps such a view would cause even the patient Jehovah to remove the blessing, and permit the curse.. So the previous procedure was repeated, however this time Balaam realized the futility of seeking for enchantments. He no longer consulted the evil spirits, but came to understand that they were powerless in the presence of the Almighty God. He realized that it was God’s delight to bless His people, and though it displeased him and threatened to rob him of the reward that he so lusted after, he was compelled to fall in with the wishes of God. As he said in an earlier parable, God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

The false prophet then set his face towards the wilderness, it was his intention to bring accusations against the people of God. He was about to remind God of all the failures, the murmuring, the rebellion, and the base ingratitude of those unworthy people. However when he opened his mouth to speak, the Spirit of God came upon him. His eyes were taken off the wilderness, and all the past failures of Jehovah’s people. Instead he saw their tents surrounding the Tabernacle, and the pillar of cloud that hovered above it. He saw the order and beauty of the whole layout of the camp. Truly they were a blessed people! Perhaps his mind traveled back to his own miserable dwelling. Though it may have been rich, luxurious and opulent, yet it was far from the presence of God, and a dwelling place haunted by demons, a place of the curse. In spite of all their failures there was not a people on earth like these. Truly they were a blessed people!

He was compelled to acknowledge that these were a people with a destiny. God had brought them out of Egypt. The blessing of God would come through them to all the world.. The waters of blessing would pour from their buckets. Their seed (Jesus Christ) would be in many waters. His blessing and salvation would come to men of all the nations of the world. Israel’s King would be higher than Agag, (the official title of the Ruler of Amalek, -which represents sin in the flesh). Agag is a figure of Satan, who rules wretched lost men, by enslaving them with sinful habits. He who commits sin is the slave of sin. John 8:34. Satan’s tyranny will at length be broken, Christ will be exalted as head over all. The great strength of Judah’s royal Lion would at last be seen, be experienced by those people that He loves. Blessing would come to all who blessed the people of God, and a curse would come on all that cursed them. Let all nations beware!

Balak is incensed, rebuking the prophet for his unwillingness to go against the word of God. Sarcastically he states that the God before whom Balaam trembled, had kept him back from the honour and reward that he was able to bestow. The false prophet weakly pleads his inability to do other than what the great God of Israel commanded him, (for fear of the personal consequences). But before he returned to his people, (he never returned to Mesopotamia), Believing that the reward he lusted after would never be his, he now makes bold to say things that would further irritate the Moabite king. At the same time he revealed his own eternal loss and doom. After once more trumpeting his own imagined greatness, he speaks of a Star that would arise out of Jacob, and a scepter that would arise out of Israel. Thus he speaks of Him who later tells us that He is the bright morning STAR, who will at last usher in a new day. First a Millennial Day, (a morning without clouds), then an Eternal Day.

In doing so, Balaam confesses his own lost estate. "I shall see HIM, but not near, I shall behold HIM, but afar off". (J.N.D. trans.) Oh the misery of the lost in Hell, to be able to see the glory of the One who would have saved them. To see the blessing, the surpassing joy of those whom He has saved, yet never to taste or to enter it, but to suffer eternally in the flames of hell! The false prophet was compelled to utter things that he hoped would never happen; things which his darkened mind could never grasp, or understand.

How these things should warn us in these days when the Lord Jesus said many false prophets and false Christs would arise. Oh that the blessed Lord Jesus may cause the scales to fall from the eyes of many, so that they may see the real nature of those wolves in sheep’s clothing. Ignorance is a curse, but simplicity is a blessing. The Lord preserves and blesses the simple, (Psalm 116:6.) The entrance of God’s word gives light, and makes wise the simple, (Psalm 119:130.) May God grant to all my readers that sweet simplicity!

We may have thought by casual reading, that we have come to the end of the matter of Balaam and his parables, but there is a lot for us to learn yet. That man who uttered such wonderful words, became one of the most infamous men who ever had anything to do with the people of Israel. He becomes one of the most frequently mentioned Gentiles in the Bible, both in Old Testament and in New. There was a dreadful epilogue to these chapters, and the events they describe. We shall examine this in the pages that follow. It shows us the fiendish cunning of Satan’s ways, and the ways of his ‘ministers’ also.

THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, THE WAY OF BALAAM, THE ERROR OF BALAAM.

(1) THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM.

As mentioned in our previous paper, the casual reader would perhaps have thought that after proclaiming the future of Israel, and many of the surrounding nations, as well as revealing his own lost estate; Balaam was sent home by King Balak. Sent home without reward, sent home in disgrace. However other scriptures tell us that this was not so.

Micah 6:5, tells us of a conversation that took place between Balak and Balaam, as they walked together from "Shittim unto Gilgal" It was during this time that Balaam revealed to the King of Moab, a plan that he knew would work. It is a modern principle today. "If you can’t beat them, join them". Break down the principle of separation, and you will overcome the most powerful of the people of God!

Balak could never hope to overcome the people of God, with arms or forces; they had already annihilated two great giants who with their armies were much mightier than any force that he could muster. Also Balaam that mighty soothsayer was unable to curse the people who were blessed by God. But the people themselves could do what neither Balak or Balaam could do. God had compelled Balaam to say "The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations". If they could be tempted to compromise their separate position; If they could be enticed to participate in the worship festivals of the Moabites, with its filth and idolatry. If they were to mingle their holy seed with that of the fallen descendants of Lot; then they would bring down upon themselves the wrath of a jealous and angry God. The curse that Balaam through fear was unable to pronounce they would bring upon themselves.

Thus Balaam taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. (Rev. 2:14). Separation is not a popular word today. God’s people are being constantly exhorted to join hands with others who call themselves ‘Christian’, regardless of their associations, or any evil that they may feel at liberty to practice. We are constantly told that we must show ‘love’, and that we must show the world that we can get along nicely together, no matter what the state of those that we are exhorted to associate with.

If believers insist on the practice of the fundamentals of Biblical faith and practice, they are then branded as "Fundamentalists", and regarded as fanatics, and put in the same group as Muslim, or Hindu, or other fanatics, who do not shrink from committing murder, violence, rape and the like. We hear constantly the claim that "all religions are the same", that "all religions lead to God", and similar things. Those who push these ideas, become very angry when the Gospel is preached, and as is happening in Afghanistan as I write, those who dare to tell the truth of God to people, are killed or cast into prison.

Let men say what they will, the truth remains that there is only one way to God, and the Lord Jesus is that way. John 14;6. Those persons who repent of their sins, (are genuinely sorry for the evil things that they have done in their lives), and turn away from sin. Those persons who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work alone. Those persons who gladly confess that Christ alone is now their Lord and Master, who name the name of the Lord, are commanded to "depart from iniquity." 2Tim.2:19. They are then commanded to cease immoral conduct, and to "Follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace, with them who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart". (verse 22.)

Many of the early believers in Corinth, were saved from an idolatrous background. The Apostle Paul made it clear to them that they were not to continue in their old associations, and practices, but must, "come out from among them, and be separate". They were not to touch what is unclean. 2Cor. 6:14-18. Satan hates to see believers walking in separation from the world, and from whatever is evil. He knows that such persons have power, and they are a threat to his kingdom. Thus it is that as he had Balaam for his servant in those past days, so still he has those who will do his bidding, to tempt, or even to command, (as if it was from God), believers to compromise. To no longer be separate from the world, and from those who practice what is evil.

Thus we have the "Doctrine of Balaam", that which he taught to Balak, which is in short. "Don’t be fanatical, show’ love’ to all, don’t dare to be separate from the world, from worldly ‘Christians’ or from people of other ‘faiths’, or religions.

So it was that Balak sent his pretty girls amongst the people of Israel. These charmed them, lavished their lust upon the people, and invited them to attend their idol festivals. They bowed to the idols of the Moabites, and were involved in fornication and adultery, with the people of Moab. This provoked Israel’s Holy God to jealousy and anger, and He smote them with a plague, with the result that twenty four thousand souls perished, without ever a sword being drawn. What a solemn lesson this is for us. (1Cor. 10 : 7-11.) Though God does not kill His people today physically, yet this explains why there is so much deadness to be found in the Church.

(2) THE WAY OF BALAAM:

It is Peter in chapter 2 of his second epistle who warns us what to expect in the last days. He tells us that just as there were false prophets amongst the Old Testament people, so there will be false teachers amongst us. The greater the ignorance of the word of God and what it teaches, amongst God’s people, the more readily they will accept such men. In stripping away their garb, (the sheeps clothing), he draws attention to what they teach, (destructive heresies), how they teach it, (with well turned words), and their ways, (how they live). The place of privilege that they assume will not shelter them from the anger of God. Because God spared not the angels that sinned, in spite of their position of power and privilege.

He says in verses 15 and 16, that they have forsaken the right way and gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, who loved the reward of unrighteousness. This is a solemn warning to us, but also gives us a clue as to what to look for in "false teachers". Wherever those who claim to be ‘men of God’, or ‘servants of God’, set their hearts on money, let us beware! This is common today. I heard of one famous man who appeared on television, and tearfully told his massive audience that the Lord had appeared to him, and told him that unless he raised a huge sum of money by a certain date, then He would take that man away. The amazing thing was that his audience was so gullible, that they contributed the sum asked for, by the date mentioned??

I recall that on my last visit to India there was an Indian "Evangelist" from U.S.A. who arrived at the meetings that he held in different parts, in a helicopter. There was another of the great "Faith preachers’, who visited India, who justified his luxurious life style. The wearing of ‘designer suits, driving a ‘Rolls Royce’ motor car, staying in the most expensive, luxurious hotels etc. Claiming that the Lord Jesus had the ‘best of everything’. This of course was not true, as anyone who knows the Gospels can readily see.

Let us be warned, wherever one who claims to be serving the Lord, yet is asking for money, or uses his ‘gift’, or position for personal gain, you may be sure that such are following the way of Balaam.

(3) THE ERROR OF BALAAM

Jude tells us about the same kind of people, telling us that they "run greedily after the error of Balaam, for reward. It seems to me that Balaam erred firstly by trafficking with evil spirits. It is an awful error to think that one can make use of the power of evil for personal fame and aggrandizement. It is true that such powers will exalt and extol the supposed powers of such men. We see this in Simon Magus, (Acts 8:9). He gave out that he was some great one. He was even willing to pay money to obtain the powers that were possessed by the Apostles, so that he might use it to exalt himself to gain a following.

The flesh loves popularity, and to be praised by men. The genuine servant of God will be deaf to the praise of men, and seek only the praise of God. The true servant will be like his Master, who made himself of no reputation.

The second error that Balaam made was to reason that God could be moved to curse a people whose sin had been covered by the atoning blood of the Passover Lamb. He was looking at God’s people as Satan does. That dreadful being who does not hesitate to accuse the saints to God their heavenly Father. But the blood of Christ, the Lamb silences the accuser, Rev. 12:11. God knew before hand that our Lord Jesus would die on the cross. That there He would satisfy the claims of Divine righteousness, Rom. 3:21-26. Those who are righteously justified by God, are beyond any condemnation. Rom. 8:1 & 30-34.

The error of Balaam is perpetuated today in what is called the ‘Falling away’ doctrine. At its roots, it supposes that the sacrifice of Christ is not enough to secure my souls salvation. I must do something, I must hold on, otherwise I will fall away and be lost eternally. If this is true, then Christ died in vain. He did not finish the work of my salvation, when hanging on the cross. This is the error of Balaam..

May God save us from the dreadful doctrine of Balaam, the doctrine of compromise. May God save us from following in the way of Balaam. Deliver us from the spirit of the age, that loves luxury, and material reward. May God save us from the error of Balaam. Let us learn the lessons that God would teach us, from the life, example, and mistakes of this wicked man!

C. E. Wigg. 18.9.01.