Revelation: Conflict, Babylon, and Victory

Balaam's Bail Out

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2004-06-06

Synopsis: John Weaver examines the error of Balaam from Jude 11 and Numbers 22–25, showing that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and, when prevented from cursing Israel, counseled Balak to seduce Israel into idolatry and fornication so that God Himself would curse them. The message warns that what the enemy cannot control, he corrupts, and that victory comes only through holiness and obedience.

[John Weaver] The name of the message, and I'll explain it shortly, the name of the message is Balaam's Bailout. You say, what in the world? Well, let's look. Jude, verse 11. Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Cor. Now note, if you would, and ran greedily after the era of Balaam for reward. Now, if you will turn back to 2 Peter 2 and look at verse 15. 2 Peter 2, verse 15.

[John Weaver] And the Word of God says this. Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Bosar, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Now note Balaam, the son of Bosar, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Now, I told you I was going to be preaching on Balaam's bailout. Each of us should remember the savings and loan bailouts that occurred in the early 1990s. The savings and loan institutions had basically been ripped off through poor management, but also through fraud and dishonesty.

[John Weaver] It was the American taxpayers who bailed them out. Actually, it was the federal government who bailed them out, but the consequences of that federal bailout was passed along to the American citizens in the form of taxes and inflation. You see, the more money the government pumps into the economy, the less our Federal Reserve notes are worth.

[John Weaver] Now, what many people do not remember or may not remember about that savings and loans fiasco was the Civilrado savings and loan was headed and managed by Neil Bush, the brother of President George Bush, and of course, one of the sons of the former President George Walker Bush. All of us probably also remember the bailout of New York City on several occasions. And of course, now the state of California is crying for money as well. And have you noticed that every state wants and cries out for federal money? And you know, it's interesting that the congressmen are elevated and respected to a greater degree depending upon the amount of federal money that they can bring home to their respective state. or to their respective towns. You see, what many people do not understand is simply this. In reality, there is no federal money.

[John Weaver] Now, let me explain that statement. Most do not realize the only federal money that exists is that which is taken from the people through taxation or stolen by inflation or other dishonest measures. Do you realize that one of the issues that caused the War of Northern Aggression, that is the War of 1861 to 1865, commonly referred to as the Civil War, but one of the issues that caused that war was the same issue that is going on today when states are demanding federal money.

[John Weaver] You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, the South supplied 75% of the money for the national treasury. Out of all the money that the federal treasury had, the South supplied 75% of it. Most of the monies were then being given to northern states. George Lutz, who is the author of The Origin of the Late War, said this, I'm quoting, in 1833, there was a surplus revenue of many millions in the public treasury which, by an act of legislation unparalleled in the history of nations, was distributed among the northern states to be used for public improvements. So who got the money? It was the northern states. It was President James Buchanan, who preceded Abraham Lincoln, by the way, in his message to Congress, he said this, the South had not had her share of money from the Treasury, and unjust discrimination had been made against her. So what was the South doing? The South was pumping all this money into the federal treasury and then it was being confiscated and taken and given to all the northern states who were supplying hardly any money into the public treasury.

[John Weaver] So very obviously the South got tired of being stolen from and defrauded and ripped off. Now there are many other reasons for that war but that certainly played a part in it. Do you realize that if each state was able to keep its own monies and keep its own taxes and not send that money to the feds, then no state would need federal money.

[John Weaver] Now what does that mean? That means that each of the separate individual states could support the federal government on a limited basis. And therefore, the federal government then would be under the control of the state just like it was originally intended to be in the Constitution of the United States. There would be no unfunded federal mandates. In fact, there would be no mandates at all. Why? Because if the states did not supply the federal government with the money, then the federal government certainly could not do anything. In other words, to control the federal government, all the states would have to do is withdraw or withhold their own monies. Now what is happening is the money is being confiscated not only from the citizens but from the states and then that money is being used then to blackmail the states into doing whatever the federal government wants it to do or those states to do.

[John Weaver] Now I mentioned this just by way of introduction to point out one simple fact, bailouts are not new. Bailouts have been going on for centuries. Bailouts have always been for the prospering of the few at the expense of the many.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in the book of Jude, verse 11. The book of Jude, verse 11, warns us of three grave errors. First of all, he says, warn to them, for they have gone in the way of Cain. That is one error, the way of Cain.

[John Weaver] Secondly, and ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward. That's the second error. And thirdly, and perished, perished in the gainsaying of Kor. Now, you'll remember just a few weeks ago when I preached the message entitled Death Wish, I explained and elaborated upon the gainsaying of Kor and showed and demonstrated from scripture that that gainsaying was nothing more than stubbornness and rebellion against God and against God's lawfully ordained authority. It is not necessarily the gain saying of core that I want to deal with today, nor the way of Cain, but basically the error of Balaam. Now, in order to understand the error of Balaam, You have to go back to the historical context. But before we turn back to Numbers 22, I want you to look at several words and phrases with me in Jude verse 11. Notice if you would, the Bible says in verse 11, Now let's stop there. First of all, I want you to look at the phrase, ran greedily.

[John Weaver] The interesting thing is the Greek word here literally means to have been poured forth like a torrent of water. Just like a river or stream bursts its banks whenever it receives too much rain, this is exactly what the word means. To run griddly means to burst out the bounds. It means to run like a torrent of water. In other words, here is someone who has recklessly not counting the cost. There is something before him that he wants and without regard for anything, without regard for God, without regard for truth, without regard for anything, he bursts forth his banks and he runs after whatever it is he wishes.

[John Weaver] Now the second word I want to point out is the word error. He says they ran greedily after the era of Balaam. The Greek word here is the word plenae. It literally means a wandering or a straying. It means one who's been led astray from the right way and he roams hither and thither. The word also refers to a mental straying. It means to have the wrong opinion, the wrong concept, the wrong idea. The word also demonstrates itself in action. In other words, it refers to a wrong way of acting. Now, let me just point out. Balaam's era was first theological, secondly it was mental, and then thirdly it was practical.

[John Weaver] Because he believed wrongly, he thought wrongly, and therefore he acted wrongly. Now if you look in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 and verse 15, notice if you would the practical disobedience to the word of God. 2 Peter 2 and verse 15 he says, which have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Bosar, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

[John Weaver] Now note how these two things go together. Number one, they have forsaken the right way. And number two, they're following the wrong way. Let me put it to you very bluntly. Whenever you forsake the right way, you're always following the wrong way. And so here is the word era, the word era indicates there's always a practical result.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. Because if we understand the era of Balaam, then we've got to go back and look at this historical context. The story is almost like a modern day soap opera in one sense of the word, because it's a story of deceit, greed, and disobedience. And of course it begins in Numbers chapter 22. And first of all let's begin with Balaam's call. Let's begin reading there with verse 1.

[John Weaver] And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox lifteth up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pthor, which is by the river, of the land by the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, For they are too mighty for me. For adventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land.

[John Weaver] For I know that he whom thou blessed is blessed, and he whom thou curses is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Launch here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me, and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam, and God came to Balaam and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them, for eventually I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up early in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your own land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

[John Weaver] And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak yet sent again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said unto him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or to do more.

[John Weaver] Now, let's stop there just momentarily. Because one of the first questions that has always been asked of me whenever this story comes up is this question, was Balaam a real prophet? And the answer is, he was certainly a prophet in a general sense of the word, but he was certainly not a prophet of Jehovah. In fact, in the book of Joshua 13, don't turn there, verse 22, we'll turn there a little bit later, but in Joshua 13, verse 22, the Bible calls him Balaam the soothsayer.

[John Weaver] Now, so saying, of course, is condemned in Scripture. The Hebrew word for soothsayer is the word Kazam, which means to practice divination, it means to divine, it means to determine by use of a lot or a magical scroll.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Since God condemns magic and since God condemns soothsaying, How in the world could Balaam be a real prophet of God? This word, soothsayer, is used in the Bible to denote the false prophets of all the nations, including the false prophets in the nation of Israel as well. You see, God condemns soothsaying and magic, so there's absolutely no way that Balaam could be a prophet of God.

[John Weaver] Whole Numbers chapter 22, but look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, Chapter 24 in verse 10. Let me show you another verse that not only demonstrates very clearly that Balaam was not a prophet of God. Notice Joshua chapter 24. And look, if you would please. At verse 10, in fact, let's read verse 9 so that you can see that Balaam is in view. Joshua 24, verse nine, then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel and sent and called Balaam, the son of Beor, to curse you. Now look what God says. But I would not hearken unto Balaam.

[John Weaver] Therefore, he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand. Now, if Balaam was God's prophet, why in the world would the people of Israel have to be delivered out of Balaam's hand? Very obviously, he was not a prophet of God. Now, someone is going to object and they're going to say, well, Balaam either must have been saved or he must have been a prophet of God, for God used Balaam and Balaam prophesied the truth. Well, that's true, God did use Balaam and Balaam did prophesy the truth. But God also used Balaam's ass and the ass spoke the truth. Now, does that make the ass a Christian or a prophet?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. I'm going to show you that in just a moment. The ass spoke and the ass spoke the truth, but that did not make him a prophet. Moreover, you're going to find that in the Bible, sometimes God uses unsaved men to declare the truth. Let me give you an illustration. Look in your Bibles, old Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles at John chapter 11. In John chapter 11, you're going to find a man by the name of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was a high priest. Caiaphas was not only an unbeliever, he was one who helped to persecute Christ. And yet God used him to speak the truth. Notice in John 11, beginning there with verse 47, Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees of counsel, and said, What do we? For this man, that is Jesus, doeth many miracles.

[John Weaver] If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all.

[John Weaver] Now look what he said. Nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, And the whole nation perished not.

[John Weaver] Now what did he say? Let's kill Christ that the nation may be preserved. Verse 51. And this spake he not of himself. In other words, he didn't know what he was saying. But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one of the children of God that were scattered abroad.

[John Weaver] Now, was Caiaphas a believer? No. He helped to persecute Jesus Christ, but yet God used him to speak the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, all the incident in Numbers 22, 23, and 24 and John 11 demonstrate is this, that the sovereign God of the universe is in absolute control. He's even in control of unbelievers. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. It's just that simple. You know what the Bible teaches in Proverbs 21 and verse 1? Listen, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord.

[John Weaver] As rivers of water, he turneth it whether so ever he pleases. Now if the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and if God controls the king, certainly God controls everyone else and everything else. God is sovereign.

[John Weaver] Now, Let's go back to Numbers chapter 22 and let me ask several leading questions. Balak, the king of Moab, and by the way, let me point this out. Sometimes, we just read here in Numbers chapter 22, sometimes they're referred to as the Moabites, sometimes the Midianites. In fact, they went to the elders of Midian, but now Balak is the king of the Moabites. Well, Midian was a son of Abraham through Keturah who went out and possessed the land and the land's name was Midian and the Moabites lived in Midian. That's why sometimes they're called Midianites as well as Moabites as well. Sometimes, for instance, when Joseph, you remember, was sold into slavery, it was the Ishmaelites who came along, but he was sold to the Midianites.

[John Weaver] How do you get all these things straight? Well, Ishmael was a man, and these people were descendants of Ishmael, hence they were called Ishmaelites, but they lived in the land of Midian, so they were Midianites. It's just like I'm a Weaver. I'm a Weaverite, but I'm also a Georgite, okay? So, I live in Georgia. So here, these Moabites were in the land of Midian, so sometimes they're referred to as Midianites and sometimes as Moabites as well, but Balak was king of Moab.

[John Weaver] Now, what did he specifically want Balaam to do? Why did he call Balaam? Well, look in verse 6. He says, Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land. Now, I want you to look at this next phrase, this last part of this verse. He says, For I know that he whom thou blesseth is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. So he had a great deal of faith in Balaam. Look in verse 11. Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure, I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out. Look in verse 17, it is. Verse 17, once again. For I will promote thee into very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people now why did they like what they would become the answer is very simple he wanted him to curse Israel he wanted him to curse them in such a way that he might be able to prevail against them and overpower them and overcome them evidently

[John Weaver] Balaam had a great reputation as a soothsayer and Balak believed in his power now two times and we just read it but two times Balak has sent men to Balaam saying, come, curse me this people. Now the very first time, Balaam checked with God and God said, don't go. You're not allowed to go. Because I blessed the people, you cannot go. And so Balaam rightly tells the men to go back to Balak and say, I can't come. But Balak then thinks that Balaam is just holding out for a higher reward. And so this time he sends more princes, greater in nobility, greater in rank and authority, and more money. And he says, come, curse me, this people.

[John Weaver] Well, now you've got to understand something. The first group came in verses 7 through 14. The second group came in verses 15 through 19, and that second group was greater in power and authority and probably promised more money. And the truth is, Balaam really wanted to go. But I want you to note something. He already understood that God did not want him to go. Look in verse 12. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them. Thou shalt not curse this people, for they are blessed. So he already knew what God wanted. Now watch carefully. Verse 18. After this second group has come, now I promise more rewards. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, if Balak would give me of his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of my God to do less or more. Now look what he says in verse 19.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say to me more. In other words, I'm going to check with him one more time. I'm going to make sure he hasn't changed his mind. Because I'd really like to go. Now watch verse 20. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, if the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them. But yet the word which I shall send unto thee thou shalt do.

[John Weaver] Now, you notice the conditions? If the men come to call you, then you may go. But you're only going to say what I want you to say. But look what happens. Verse 21, And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the prince of the Moab. He didn't wait for them to come and call. He just simply got up and went. Why would Balaam be so eager and so ready to disobey truth?

[John Weaver] And the answer is because of money. He valued the monetary reward greater than obedience to God. Remember the phrase that we pointed out in Jude, verse 11, ran running greedily after the error of Balaam for reward.

[John Weaver] Now, in the next part, of the story, God's anger is kindled against them. And God sends an angel to kill him. I want to read this because to me, it's not only humorous, but it also points out the fact the seriousness of disobedience. Notice, if you would please, verse 22. And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him.

[John Weaver] Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smoked the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?

[John Weaver] And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there was a sword in mine hand, for now I would kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? And was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand.

[John Weaver] And he bowed down his head, and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy ways perverse before me, and the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now I had slain thee, and saved her life. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, if it displeased thee, I will get thee back. Now let's stop. So Balaam is riding the ass, and three times now the ass sees the angel, but Balaam doesn't. And when finally the ass falls down, Balaam is so irritated, he said, I would, there was a sword in my hand, if there was, I'd kill you. And the ass said, am not I thine ass? Have you not ridden upon me ever since you got me? Was I ever wont to do such? And Balaam said, nay.

[John Weaver] Now someone asked me, Brother Weaver, do you really believe that ass talked? And the answer is yes. I don't have any problem believing in the power of God. God can do whatever He wants. The thing that baffles me in this passage is not that the ass talked, but that Balaam answered him. I mean, can you imagine standing there carrying on the conversation with a donkey? And the funny thing is, the ass asked him, Once I ever want to do this, he said nay. So here the ass is prophesying and the prophet is naying. I mean, you'll catch the play on words in a moment. But anyhow. But God said, look, you better be thankful for that dumb ass because had she not seen the angel, you would have been dead and she would have been alive.

[John Weaver] And Balaam says, oh, if I have displeased thee, I'll get thee back. No, said God, you started out, you're going. But he said, I'll tell you what, you're going to understand now that you're either going to obey me or you're going to die. And guess what Balaam does? Balaam chooses that which is in his best interest. And he says, you know, I think I'm just going to obey you.

[John Weaver] Thus, when he arrives at Balak, to Balak's place, he's a very humbled and subdued soothsayer. Look in verse 36. And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, He went out to meet him into a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee.

[John Weaver] Have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God put it in my mouth, that shall I So, you know, Balaam is not so high and mighty at this point. He's not so haughty. He says, all I can say is what God will have me to say.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note that three times God turns the curses into blessings. I want you to note that three times Balak has tried to get Balaam to curse Israel. And three times God changes the curses and the blessings. You'll find that the first one, and we're not going to look at them in detail, the chapter 22 verses 39 through chapter 23 verse 12. That's the first instance. The second one is chapter 23 verses 13 through 24. And the third one is chapter 23 verse 25 through chapter 24 and verse 9. So each instance where Balak takes Balaam, that he may see Israel, so that he may curse them each time he blesses them. Now, it is not my intent in this message to look at all of these blessings and all these prophecies. They are indeed great, and they are indeed wonderful blessings.

[John Weaver] The point I'm trying to make right now is simply this. that it is God who turned the curses into blessings.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you the era of Balak. Look back in your Bibles to Numbers 22 and verse 6. Numbers 22, verse 6. Balak asked Balaam, and he says, Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. For adventure, I shall prevail that we may smite them and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he who now blessed is blessed and he who now curses is cursed. Are you listening?

[John Weaver] Cursing and blessing are in the hands of God, not in the hands of man. Balaam believed or Balak believed that Balaam was able to curse and bless, which is not true. If you would hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 at verses 4 and 5. Once again, God is now speaking about the Moabites. Notice if you would. Deuteronomy 23 verse 4. Talking about the Moabites, he says in verse 4, because they met you not with bread and water in the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor of Pthor, a Mesopotamian, to curse thee. Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. But the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. Now, note if you would, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. Cursing and blessing are not in the power of man, but in the power of God. This is vitally important.

[John Weaver] Men may castigate us, they may condemn us, they may despise us, they may hate and betray us, they may curse and condemn us, but all of their oaths and all of their condemnations and all of their efforts are actually useless and powerless. Only God can make a curse effectual. Only God can make a blessing effectual. And none can curse whom God blesses. I want you to hold Numbers 22.

[John Weaver] But turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. I want you to see the importance of this truth. Romans 8. The Apostle Paul uses this argument in demonstrating our preservation in Jesus Christ. Please understand, only God can make a curse effectual. Only God can make a blessing effectual. Therefore, in Romans 8, notice verse 33, the Bible says this, Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Now watch.

[John Weaver] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather than is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

[John Weaver] Now look what he said. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Then he said, it is God that justifies it, or it is God that blesses, gives us the blessing of justification. And then he asked, who is he that can condemn it? Who can destroy that which God has blessed? Who can undo that which God has done? And the answer is no one. And then he asked, who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ? And the answer is no one, nothing. Men may hate us, men may despise us, but they cannot change the blessing of God upon our lives. They may pronounce all of their anathemas against us, but they're powerless. They're useless because he who God blesses is blessed and he who God curses is cursed. Cursing and blessing is in the hand of God, not in the hand of man.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go back to Numbers chapter 22. What is Well, Balaam has blessed Balak's enemies three times, on three different occasions. He was supposed to curse them, but God turned the curses into blessings. Needless to say, Balak was unhappy with Balaam. In fact, look in Numbers chapter 24. And look at verse 10. Numbers 24, verse 10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together.

[John Weaver] Boy, you know I'm not frustrated. And Balak said unto Balaam, I call thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee thou out of my place. I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. Hmm. What did he say? I thought to promote you. But God kept you back. I wonder if there's kind of a little threat in that verse 11. Therefore, now flee thou into thy place.

[John Weaver] In other words, you better get out of my sight before I change my mind. Well. Let me ask you. If Balak is upset and angry. If Balaam has not curses enemies the way he desired him. Is there going to be any promotion? Is there going to be any honor for Balaam? Is there going to be any reward? And the answer is obviously no. Balak was not going to pay him for blessing his enemies. Now. How in the world could it be said that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness if he didn't get any wages?

[John Weaver] I'll come back to that in just a moment. Here's the second thing I want you to see. Not just Balaam's call. Secondly, very quickly, Balaam's condemnation. Look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 13. Whole numbers. We're coming right back there. But turn to Joshua, chapter 13. Joshua, Judges. Joshua, chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 22. Joshua 13, verse 22. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer. I told you earlier the Bible called him a soothsayer. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer.

[John Weaver] Did the children of Israel slay with a sword among them that were slain by them? What happened to Balaam? The children of Israel killed him with a sword. Now, clearly Balaam was not a prophet of Jehovah. Why? because he was condemned to the sword as a heathen and as an enemy.

[John Weaver] Now hold Joshua 13, but go right over in your Bibles to Numbers 23 and verse 10. Look at one of the things that Balaam said as he was blessing Israel. Numbers 23, verse 10. Here's one of the blessings. Who can count the dust of Jacob and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Now look what he says. Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his. Now what did Balaam say? Let me die the death of the righteous. Let my last end be like his. Balaam certainly wanted to die the death of the righteous, but he did not want to live the life of the righteous. And you cannot die the death of the righteous unless you live the life of the righteous.

[John Weaver] Consequently, he died with God's enemies and the enemies of God's people. Look back in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 13 and let's begin reading there with verse 21. Watch carefully and all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sion, king of the Amorites who reign in Heshbon, who Moses smoked with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Recham, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon dwelling in the country.

[John Weaver] Balaam also, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. So Balaam did not die the death of the righteous. He died with the enemies of God and the enemies of God's people. Everything I've preached this morning. Was to reach this one point. OK, you've seen Balaam's call, Balaam's condemnation, and now I want you to see Balaam's counsel.

[John Weaver] Look in Numbers chapter 24 and verse 14. You see, Balaam still has a card up his sleeve. God would not allow Balaam to curse Israel. And therefore, he lost his reward of divination. After Balak has gotten angry with him and said, you better flee to your own country before I do something I might be ashamed of, he defends himself. And he says in verse 12, And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also unto thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord. to do either good or bad of my own mind. But what the Lord said, that will I speak.

[John Weaver] And now behold, I go unto my people. You want to get rid of me? I'm going to go. Come, therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter day.

[John Weaver] Now, you may ask, how could Balaam be said to be one who loved the wages of unrighteousness and be one who read greedily after reward if he never received it? Well, very obviously, Balaam was not going to pay him for blessing his enemies, and he lost his reward of divination. But let me put it like this. Balaam did not receive his cursing fee. But he did receive his counseling fee. He got bailed out. He got his reward. He got his money. Let me put it to you a different way. He did not get paid for cursing. But he got paid for being a consultant. He had his consulting fee, his counseling fee.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to listen very carefully what I'm about to tell you, because I believe it's vitally important. How do we know that Balaam counseled with Balak and told him what to do. And the answer is obvious, because the scripture tells us. Look at the word advertise, verse 14. He said, Now behold, I go into my people, come therefore, and I will advertise thee. Now the word advertise is the Hebrew word ya'atz.

[John Weaver] It means to advise, to counsel, to give counsel, to consult, to consult together, And to liberate and to counsel together. So he says, Belak, you come with me. I'm going to give you some consultation. I'm going to give you some counsel. Now. I want you to listen carefully. We must understand. Balaam's counsel. Before we can understand Balaam's bailout. Listen carefully. You've got to understand Balaam's counsel before you can understand Balaam's bailout. What was it that Balaam wanted Balaam to do? Someone tell me. Curse Israel. That's what he wanted. Could Balaam curse Israel? No. God stopped him. Balaam wanted Israel cursed. Balaam couldn't curse him.

[John Weaver] So Balak then withheld the reward of his divination. But what Balaam could not get by divination, he could get by consultation and counseling because here's what he did. Balak, God will not let me curse Israel. But I will teach you. How to get God to curse Israel himself. What God will not allow me to do. I will get God to do. Himself. And that amazing. So it is consultation he's willing then. To teach bail. how to get God to curse Israel.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 31. Numbers 31 verses 16 through 18. I'm going to show you he gave him this counsel. Numbers 31 verse 16.

[John Weaver] Now, you've got to understand in chapter 31, God has told Moses and the people to go Take care of the Midianites and the Moabites. And here's why. God, Moses was upset because he had brought back some of the women alive and did not kill all of them like they were instructed. Verse 16, look what he says. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman and every man by lying with them. Now look what he said in verse 16. Behold, these cause the children of Israel, that is these Moabites, these Midianites, they cause the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to be trespassed against the Lord in the matter of Peor. So here's a plague among the people which I'm going to mention in just a moment. And that plague was because of the counseling of Balaam to Balak. How did the Midianites and the Moabites get God to curse Israel? Through the counsel of Balaam.

[John Weaver] Let me show it to you again. Look in your Bibles to the book of Revelation chapter 2 and verse 14. Revelation 2 verse 14. Here the Lord is talking to the church at Pergamos. Revelation 2 verse 14. God says, But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. What does he say? Balaam taught Balak. Oh, Balak, you wanted me to curse Israel? I can't curse Israel. God won't let me do that. But, Balak, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll teach you how to get God to curse Israel Himself. I'll get my fee.

[John Weaver] It just will not be through divination. Now, what did Balak counsel Or what did Balaam counsel and teach Balak to do? I want you to turn back in your Bibles to Numbers 25. This is very important. Listen carefully. What did Balaam teach Balak to do? He taught Balak to seduce the people into fornication and idolatry. Because he knew that when the people did that, God would curse them himself. Verse 1, Numbers 25, And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. Look, and the people did eat and bow down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of these men that were joined in the Baal Peor.

[John Weaver] And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought into his brethren a million-eyed woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phineas, the son of Eliezer, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, took a javelin in his hand, and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. Now, in one plague, God killed 24,000 Israelites because of fornication and idolatry. Are you listening?

[John Weaver] Here's the point of my entire message. What the enemy cannot control. He corrupts. If our enemies cannot overcome us, if they cannot defeat us, if they cannot destroy us, all they have to do is to get us to compromise and corrupt ourselves. And we'll destroy ourselves. We shall not be defeated by our enemies, but by ourselves. You remember Pogo the Possum? Used to be on the water tower here in Waycross. Comic strip. Pogo the Possum was the one who said, we have met the enemy and he is us. We have met the enemy and he is us. The point I'm making is this, folks. None of our enemies can control us. You know why? Because God is sovereign. God is in control. We're in His hand. But if they cannot control us, in order to destroy us, they will corrupt us.

[John Weaver] Do you understand that a holy, godly, obedient life absolutely necessary for success and victory. Now, let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. You know this. As long as Israel obeyed, she was blessed. Whenever she disobeyed, she was cursed. Let me spell it out to you in one simple sentence. Victory comes only through obedience.

[John Weaver] Now do you begin to see why our enemies want us to be unholy and ungodly? Now do you begin to see why there is so much filth in the movies, on TV, and in our magazines? You know why? Because an unholy, disobedient people is a cursed people, and they are not to be feared. An unholy, disobedient people is a corrupt people. They are not to be feared. Why? Because they're powerless in and of themselves, and if they're unholy and corrupt, they cannot avail themselves to the power of God.

[John Weaver] Remember what David said in Psalm 66 and verse 18? He said, If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me. All our enemies have to do is to get us to compromise and to be disobedient and corrupt ourselves. And we destroy ourselves. We cannot avail ourselves of the power of God as long as we're in rebellion and disobedience to him.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Micah. Chapter 6. One of the minor prophets. Micah. Chapter 6. Micah is right after the book of Jonah. Right before the book of Nahum. Micah. Chapter 6. And look if you would please at verse 5. We're still making an application. Micah 6. Verse 5. Look what God says. Oh my people. Remember now what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him from Shittimun to Gilgal, that you may know the righteousness of the Lord. He said, O my people, you better remember what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him.

[John Weaver] He said it's vitally important. Why? That you might know the righteousness of the Lord. God is righteous and God will not put up with sin. He will not honor our foolishness. He will not honor our disobedience. And in fact, his anger at Numbers chapter 25 was nothing less than a demonstration of his righteousness. Do you remember that the Hebrew word for righteousness and the Hebrew word for justice are one in the same? It's the same word.

[John Weaver] Because whatever is right is just. Whatever is just is right. God righteously and justly destroyed those people in Numbers 25 because of their fornication and their idolatry. Let me spell it out again. Are you listening? If we want victory, it must be on God's terms. And His terms are holiness. and obedience.

[John Weaver] Now, go in your Bibles to Revelation 2, verse 14 one more time. I've already read it, but I'm making an application. Watch carefully, Revelation 2, verse 14. How many of you have ever heard preachers say, well, it really doesn't matter how you live, just so you believe in Jesus Christ. I've heard people say that. Tell you what, a lot of people may not say that, but they surely practice it. It does matter how you live, because if you truly and savingly believe in Jesus Christ, you will live biblically and scripturally. But look again, I just want to show you Revelation 2 and verse 14. What did God tell the church of Pergamos?

[John Weaver] But I have a few things against thee. What is it? Because thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. What are they saying? Well, it's all right. to do what you want to do just so you believe in Christ. That's what they're saying.

[John Weaver] This was a church, the church at Pergamos, and they were teaching there. It was all right to commit fornication and to sacrifice to idols. That's kind of like me saying, well, now, folks, God doesn't really like adultery, but he understands. No, he doesn't understand. He condemns it. He forbids it. He punishes it. What is the error of Balaam? It's not just desiring money, but it's when you corrupt people and get God to curse them. God's people. And that's why he's shouting out against these people In Revelation chapter 2 of the Church of Pergamos. One last application, folks. And here it is. We must grasp the importance and the impact of God's cursings and blessings.

[John Weaver] You'll find them in Deuteronomy 28. You'll find them in Leviticus 26. Let me tell you something. I'm not afraid of man. Man can curse me all he wants. Because I know that man does not have the power to make his curse effectual. But when God curses us, he can make it stick. Man may say, I bless you, but he does not have the power to make that blessing effectual. But when God blesses us, he makes it stick. Cursing and blessing are not in the hands of man, but they're in the hand of God. And we can say to Him, He whom thou cursest is cursed, and He whom thou blessest is blessed. And if you want to be blessed, then you must be obedient.

[John Weaver] For 1 Samuel 2 verse 30, The Lord says, live and honor me. Will I honor, saith the Lord. Remember, whatever the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. And once you're corrupted, you've destroyed yourself. Let's pray. Father, we are thankful today for the truth of your word. We're thankful, Father, for the warnings that you've given us. And Lord, we pray that you would indeed keep us from the way of Cain, the era of Balaam, and the gainsaying of Cor. We pray, Father, that we would understand how important it is to live a holy, godly, obedient life. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Balaam's Bail Out

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	690416112
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation: Conflict, Babylon, and Victory
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-06-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 141: Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	88

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: Bailouts and the Error of Balaam

Weaver introduces the concept of bailouts using the savings and loan crisis and federal money, then turns to Jude 11 to identify the error of Balaam as one of three grave errors.

The name of the message, and I'll explain it shortly, the name of the message is Balaam's Bailout. You say, what in the world? Well, let's look. Jude, verse 11:

Scripture Reading — 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 Kor."

Now note, if you would,

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:11

"and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward."

Now, if you will turn back to 2 Peter 2 and look at verse 15. 2 Peter 2, verse 15. And the Word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:11

"Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

Now note Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Now, I told you I was going to be preaching on Balaam's bailout. Each of us should remember the savings and loan bailouts that occurred in the early 1990s. The savings and loan institutions had basically been ripped off through poor management, but also through fraud and dishonesty.

It was the American taxpayers who bailed them out. Actually, it was the federal government who bailed them out, but the consequences of that federal bailout was passed along to the American citizens in the form of taxes and inflation. You see, the more money the government pumps into the economy, the less our Federal Reserve notes are worth. Now, what many people do not remember or may not remember about that savings and loan fiasco was the Silverado savings and loan was headed and managed by Neil Bush, the brother of President George Bush, and of course, one of the sons of the former President George Herbert Walker Bush. All of us probably also remember the bailout of New York City on several occasions. And of course, now the state of California is crying for money as well. And have you noticed that every state wants and cries out for federal money? And you know, it's interesting that the congressmen are elevated and respected to a greater degree depending upon the amount of federal money that they can bring home to their respective state or to their respective towns. You see, what many people do not understand is simply this. In reality, there is no federal money.

Now, let me explain that statement. Most do not realize the only federal money that exists is that which is taken from the people through taxation or stolen by inflation or other dishonest measures. Do you realize that one of the issues that caused the War of Northern Aggression, that is the War of 1861 to 1865, commonly referred to as the Civil War, but one of the issues that caused that war was the same issue that is going on today when states are demanding federal money. You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, the South supplied 75% of the money for the national treasury. Out of all the money that the federal treasury had, the South supplied 75% of it. Most of the monies were then being given to northern states. George Lutz, who is the author of The Origin of the Late War, said this, I'm quoting, "In 1833, there was a surplus revenue of many millions in the public treasury which, by an act of legislation unparalleled in the history of nations, was distributed among the northern states to be used for public improvements." So who got the money? It was the northern states. It was President James Buchanan, who preceded Abraham Lincoln, by the way, in his message to Congress, he said this, "The South had not had her share of money from the Treasury, and unjust discrimination had been made against her." So what was the South doing? The South was pumping all this money into the federal treasury and then it was being confiscated and taken and given to all the northern states who were supplying hardly any money into the public treasury.

So very obviously the South got tired of being stolen from and defrauded and ripped off. Now there are many other reasons for that war but that certainly played a part in it. Do you realize that if each state was able to keep its own monies and keep its own taxes and not send that money to the feds, then no state would need federal money. Now what does that mean? That means that each of the separate individual states could support the federal government on a limited basis. And therefore, the federal government then would be under the control of the state just like it was originally intended to be in the Constitution of the United States. There would be no unfunded federal mandates. In fact, there would be no mandates at all. Why? Because if the states did not supply the federal government with the money, then the federal government certainly could not do anything. In other words, to control the federal government, all the states would have to do is withdraw or withhold their own monies. Now what is happening is the money is being confiscated not only from the citizens but from the states and then that money is being used then to blackmail the states into doing whatever the federal government wants it to do or those states to do.

Now I mentioned this just by way of introduction to point out one simple fact, bailouts are not new. Bailouts have been going on for centuries. Bailouts have always been for the prospering of the few at the expense of the many. Now, if you look in the book of Jude, verse 11. The book of Jude, verse 11, warns us of three grave errors. First of all, he says, "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain." That is one error, the way of Cain. Secondly, "and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." That's the second error. And thirdly, "and perished in the gainsaying of Kor." Now, you'll remember just a few weeks ago when I preached the message entitled Death Wish, I explained and elaborated upon the gainsaying of Kor and showed and demonstrated from scripture that that gainsaying was nothing more than stubbornness and rebellion against God and against God's lawfully ordained authority. It is not necessarily the gainsaying of Kor that I want to deal with today, nor the way of Cain, but basically the error of Balaam. Now, in order to understand the error of Balaam, you have to go back to the historical context. But before we turn back to Numbers 22, I want you to look at several words and phrases with me in Jude verse 11. Notice if you would, the Bible says in verse 11, "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." Now let's stop there. First of all, I want you to look at the phrase, "ran greedily."

The Meaning of 'Ran Greedily' and 'Error'

The Greek words for 'ran greedily' and 'error' are explained: 'ran greedily' means to burst forth like a torrent, and 'error' (planē) indicates a wandering from the right way in thought and action.

The interesting thing is the Greek word here literally means to have been poured forth like a torrent of water. Just like a river or stream bursts its banks whenever it receives too much rain, this is exactly what the word means. To run greedily means to burst out the bounds. It means to run like a torrent of water. In other words, here is someone who has recklessly not counting the cost. There is something before him that he wants and without regard for anything, without regard for God, without regard for truth, without regard for anything, he bursts forth his banks and he runs after whatever it is he wishes.

Now the second word I want to point out is the word error. He says they ran greedily after the error of Balaam. The Greek word here is the word planē. It literally means a wandering or a straying. It means one who's been led astray from the right way and he roams hither and thither. The word also refers to a mental straying. It means to have the wrong opinion, the wrong concept, the wrong idea. The word also demonstrates itself in action. In other words, it refers to a wrong way of acting. Now, let me just point out. Balaam's error was first theological, secondly it was mental, and then thirdly it was practical.

Because he believed wrongly, he thought wrongly, and therefore he acted wrongly. Now if you look in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 and verse 15, notice if you would the practical disobedience to the word of God. 2 Peter 2 and verse 15 he says, "Which have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

Balaam's Call and Disobedience

Balak summons Balaam to curse Israel. God forbids it, but Balaam, enticed by reward, seeks permission again and goes without waiting for the men to call him, revealing his greed.

Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. Because if we understand the error of Balaam, then we've got to go back and look at this historical context. The story is almost like a modern day soap opera in one sense of the word, because it's a story of deceit, greed, and disobedience. And of course it begins in Numbers chapter 22. And first of all let's begin with Balaam's call. Let's begin reading there with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

"And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river, of the land by the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land."

"For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me, and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam, and God came to Balaam and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them, for peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up early in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your own land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you."

"And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak yet sent again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said unto him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or to do more."

Now, let's stop there just momentarily. Because one of the first questions that has always been asked of me whenever this story comes up is this question, was Balaam a real prophet? And the answer is, he was certainly a prophet in a general sense of the word, but he was certainly not a prophet of Jehovah. In fact, in the book of Joshua 13, don't turn there, verse 22, we'll turn there a little bit later, but in Joshua 13, verse 22, the Bible calls him Balaam the soothsayer.

Now, soothsaying, of course, is condemned in Scripture. The Hebrew word for soothsayer is the word qasam, which means to practice divination, it means to divine, it means to determine by use of a lot or a magical scroll. Now, let me ask you a question. Since God condemns magic and since God condemns soothsaying, how in the world could Balaam be a real prophet of God? This word, soothsayer, is used in the Bible to denote the false prophets of all the nations, including the false prophets in the nation of Israel as well. You see, God condemns soothsaying and magic, so there's absolutely no way that Balaam could be a prophet of God. Hold Numbers chapter 22, but look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 24 in verse 10. Let me show you another verse that not only demonstrates very clearly that Balaam was not a prophet of God. Notice Joshua chapter 24. And look, if you would please, at verse 10, in fact, let's read verse 9 so that you can see that Balaam is in view. Joshua 24, verse 9,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

"Then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel and sent and called Balaam, the son of Beor, to curse you."

Now look what God says. "But I would not hearken unto Balaam."

"Therefore, he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand." Now, if Balaam was God's prophet, why in the world would the people of Israel have to be delivered out of Balaam's hand? Very obviously, he was not a prophet of God. Now, someone is going to object and they're going to say, well, Balaam either must have been saved or he must have been a prophet of God, for God used Balaam and Balaam prophesied the truth. Well, that's true, God did use Balaam and Balaam did prophesy the truth. But God also used Balaam's ass and the ass spoke the truth. Now, does that make the ass a Christian or a prophet?

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

And the answer is no. I'm going to show you that in just a moment. The ass spoke and the ass spoke the truth, but that did not make him a prophet. Moreover, you're going to find that in the Bible, sometimes God uses unsaved men to declare the truth. Let me give you an illustration. Look in your Bibles, hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles at John chapter 11. In John chapter 11, you're going to find a man by the name of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was a high priest. Caiaphas was not only an unbeliever, he was one who helped to persecute Christ. And yet God used him to speak the truth. Notice in John 11, beginning there with verse 47, "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man, that is Jesus, doeth many miracles."

"If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all." Now look what he said. "Nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation perish not."

Now what did he say? Let's kill Christ that the nation may be preserved. Verse 51, "And this spake he not of himself." In other words, he didn't know what he was saying. "But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

Now, was Caiaphas a believer? No. He helped to persecute Jesus Christ, but yet God used him to speak the truth. Now, all the incident in Numbers 22, 23, and 24 and John 11 demonstrate is this, that the sovereign God of the universe is in absolute control. He's even in control of unbelievers. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. It's just that simple. You know what the Bible teaches in Proverbs 21 and verse 1? Listen, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord."

"As rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he pleases." Now if the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and if God controls the king, certainly God controls everyone else and everything else. God is sovereign. Now, let's go back to Numbers chapter 22 and let me ask several leading questions. Balak, the king of Moab, and by the way, let me point this out. Sometimes, we just read here in Numbers chapter 22, sometimes they're referred to as the Moabites, sometimes the Midianites. In fact, they went to the elders of Midian, but now Balak is the king of the Moabites. Well, Midian was a son of Abraham through Keturah who went out and possessed the land and the land's name was Midian and the Moabites lived in Midian. That's why sometimes they're called Midianites as well as Moabites as well. Sometimes, for instance, when Joseph, you remember, was sold into slavery, it was the Ishmaelites who came along, but he was sold to the Midianites.

How do you get all these things straight? Well, Ishmael was a man, and these people were descendants of Ishmael, hence they were called Ishmaelites, but they lived in the land of Midian, so they were Midianites. It's just like I'm a Weaver. I'm a Weaverite, but I'm also a Georgite, okay? So, I live in Georgia. So here, these Moabites were in the land of Midian, so sometimes they're referred to as Midianites and sometimes as Moabites as well, but Balak was king of Moab.

Now, what did he specifically want Balaam to do? Why did he call Balaam? Well, look in verse 6. He says, "Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land." Now, I want you to look at this next phrase, this last part of this verse. He says, "For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." So he had a great deal of faith in Balaam. Look in verse 11. "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure, I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out." Look in verse 17, it is. Verse 17, once again. "For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people." Now why did he want Balaam to come? The answer is very simple. He wanted him to curse Israel. He wanted him to curse them in such a way that he might be able to prevail against them and overpower them and overcome them. Evidently,

Balaam had a great reputation as a soothsayer and Balak believed in his power. Now two times, and we just read it, but two times Balak has sent men to Balaam saying, "Come, curse me this people." Now the very first time, Balaam checked with God and God said, "Don't go. You're not allowed to go. Because I blessed the people, you cannot go." And so Balaam rightly tells the men to go back to Balak and say, "I can't come." But Balak then thinks that Balaam is just holding out for a higher reward. And so this time he sends more princes, greater in nobility, greater in rank and authority, and more money. And he says, "Come, curse me this people." Well, now you've got to understand something. The first group came in verses 7 through 14. The second group came in verses 15 through 19, and that second group was greater in power and authority and probably promised more money. And the truth is, Balaam really wanted to go. But I want you to note something. He already understood that God did not want him to go. Look in verse 12. "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them. Thou shalt not curse this people, for they are blessed." So he already knew what God wanted. Now watch carefully. Verse 18. After this second group has come, now I promise more rewards. "And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of my God to do less or more." Now look what he says in verse 19.

"Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say to me more." In other words, I'm going to check with him one more time. I'm going to make sure he hasn't changed his mind. Because I'd really like to go. Now watch verse 20. "And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, if the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them. But yet the word which I shall send unto thee thou shalt do."

Now, you notice the conditions? If the men come to call you, then you may go. But you're only going to say what I want you to say. But look what happens. Verse 21, "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab." He didn't wait for them to come and call. He just simply got up and went. Why would Balaam be so eager and so ready to disobey truth?

The Angel, the Donkey, and Balaam's Humbling

God's anger is kindled; an angel opposes Balaam. The donkey sees the angel and speaks, and Balaam's eyes are opened. He is humbled and told to speak only God's words.

"Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?"

"And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there was a sword in mine hand, for now I would kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? And was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand." "And he bowed down his head, and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me, and the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now I had slain thee, and saved her life. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me."

"Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back." Now let's stop. So Balaam is riding the ass, and three times now the ass sees the angel, but Balaam doesn't. And when finally the ass falls down, Balaam is so irritated, he said, "I would there was a sword in my hand, if there was, I'd kill you." And the ass said, "Am not I thine ass? Have you not ridden upon me ever since you got me? Was I ever wont to do such?" And Balaam said, "Nay."

Now someone asked me, "Brother Weaver, do you really believe that ass talked?" And the answer is yes. I don't have any problem believing in the power of God. God can do whatever He wants. The thing that baffles me in this passage is not that the ass talked, but that Balaam answered him. I mean, can you imagine standing there carrying on a conversation with a donkey? And the funny thing is, the ass asked him, "Was I ever wont to do this?" He said, "Nay." So here the ass is prophesying and the prophet is naying. I mean, you'll catch the play on words in a moment. But anyhow. But God said, "Look, you better be thankful for that dumb ass because had she not seen the angel, you would have been dead and she would have been alive."

And Balaam says, "Oh, if I have displeased thee, I'll get me back." No, said God, "You started out, you're going." But he said, "I'll tell you what, you're going to understand now that you're either going to obey me or you're going to die." And guess what Balaam does? Balaam chooses that which is in his best interest. And he says, "You know, I think I'm just going to obey you." Thus, when he arrives at Balak's place, he's a very humbled and subdued soothsayer. Look in verse 36. "And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him into a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee."

Curses Turned to Blessings

Three times Balak tries to have Israel cursed, but God turns each curse into a blessing, demonstrating that cursing and blessing are in God's hand alone.

Now, I want you to note that three times God turns the curses into blessings. I want you to note that three times Balak has tried to get Balaam to curse Israel. And three times God changes the curses into blessings. You'll find that the first one, and we're not going to look at them in detail, the chapter 22 verses 39 through chapter 23 verse 12. That's the first instance. The second one is chapter 23 verses 13 through 24. And the third one is chapter 23 verse 25 through chapter 24 and verse 9. So each instance where Balak takes Balaam, that he may see Israel, so that he may curse them, each time he blesses them. Now, it is not my intent in this message to look at all of these blessings and all these prophecies. They are indeed great, and they are indeed wonderful blessings.

The point I'm trying to make right now is simply this: that it is God who turned the curses into blessings. Now, let me show you the error of Balak. Look back in your Bibles to Numbers 22 and verse 6. Numbers 22, verse 6. Balak asked Balaam, and he says, "Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Peradventure I shall prevail that we may smite them and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." Are you listening?

Cursing and blessing are in the hands of God, not in the hands of man. Balak believed that Balaam was able to curse and bless, which is not true. If you would hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 at verses 4 and 5. Once again, God is now speaking about the Moabites. Notice if you would. Deuteronomy 23 verse 4. Talking about the Moabites, he says in verse 4,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:4-5

"Because they met you not with bread and water in the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor of Pethor, a Mesopotamian, to curse thee. Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. But the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee."

Now, note if you would,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:4-5

"the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam."

Cursing and blessing are not in the power of man, but in the power of God. This is vitally important.

Balaam's Condemnation and Counsel

Balaam is later slain by Israel as a soothsayer. Though he lost his cursing fee, he received a counseling fee by advising Balak how to make God curse Israel through seduction into idolatry and fornication.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 24:10-14

I'll come back to that in just a moment. Here's the second thing I want you to see. Not just Balaam's call. Secondly, very quickly, Balaam's condemnation. Look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 13. Hold Numbers. We're coming right back there. But turn to Joshua, chapter 13. Joshua, Judges. Joshua, chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 22. Joshua 13, verse 22. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer." I told you earlier the Bible called him a soothsayer. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer."

"Did the children of Israel slay with a sword among them that were slain by them?" What happened to Balaam? The children of Israel killed him with a sword. Now, clearly Balaam was not a prophet of Jehovah. Why? Because he was condemned to the sword as a heathen and as an enemy.

Now hold Joshua 13, but go right over in your Bibles to Numbers 23 and verse 10. Look at one of the things that Balaam said as he was blessing Israel. Numbers 23, verse 10. Here's one of the blessings.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Who can count the dust of Jacob and the number of the fourth part of Israel?"

Now look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his."

Now what did Balaam say?

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Let me die the death of the righteous. Let my last end be like his."

Balaam certainly wanted to die the death of the righteous, but he did not want to live the life of the righteous. And you cannot die the death of the righteous unless you live the life of the righteous.

Consequently, he died with God's enemies and the enemies of God's people. Look back in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 13 and let's begin reading there with verse 21. Watch carefully: "And all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon dwelling in the country." "Balaam also, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them." So Balaam did not die the death of the righteous. He died with the enemies of God and the enemies of God's people. Everything I've preached this morning was to reach this one point. OK, you've seen Balaam's call, Balaam's condemnation, and now I want you to see Balaam's counsel.

Look in Numbers chapter 24 and verse 14. You see, Balaam still has a card up his sleeve. God would not allow Balaam to curse Israel. And therefore, he lost his reward of divination. After Balak has gotten angry with him and said, "You better flee to your own country before I do something I might be ashamed of," he defends himself. And he says in verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 24:10-14

"And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also unto thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind. But what the Lord said, that will I speak."

"And now behold, I go unto my people. You want to get rid of me? I'm going to go. Come, therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter day."

Now, you may ask, how could Balaam be said to be one who loved the wages of unrighteousness and be one who ran greedily after reward if he never received it? Well, very obviously, Balak was not going to pay him for blessing his enemies, and he lost his reward of divination. But let me put it like this. Balaam did not receive his cursing fee. But he did receive his counseling fee. He got bailed out. He got his reward. He got his money. Let me put it to you a different way. He did not get paid for cursing. But he got paid for being a consultant. He had his consulting fee, his counseling fee.

Now, I want you to listen very carefully what I'm about to tell you, because I believe it's vitally important. How do we know that Balaam counseled with Balak and told him what to do? And the answer is obvious, because the scripture tells us. Look at the word "advertise," verse 14. He said, "Now behold, I go unto my people, come therefore, and I will advertise thee." Now the word "advertise" is the Hebrew word ya'ats. It means to advise, to counsel, to give counsel, to consult, to consult together, and to deliberate and to counsel together. So he says, "Balak, you come with me. I'm going to give you some consultation. I'm going to give you some counsel." Now. I want you to listen carefully. We must understand Balaam's counsel before we can understand Balaam's bailout. Listen carefully. You've got to understand Balaam's counsel before you can understand Balaam's bailout. What was it that Balak wanted Balaam to do? Someone tell me. Curse Israel. That's what he wanted. Could Balaam curse Israel? No. God stopped him. Balak wanted Israel cursed. Balaam couldn't curse him.

The Counsel Executed: Israel's Sin at Peor

Balaam taught Balak to seduce Israel into whoredom and idolatry. Israel joined to Baal Peor, and God's anger resulted in a plague killing 24,000.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 31. Numbers 31 verses 16 through 18. I'm going to show you he gave him this counsel. Numbers 31 verse 16.

Now, you've got to understand in chapter 31, God has told Moses and the people to go take care of the Midianites and the Moabites. And here's why. Moses was upset because he had brought back some of the women alive and did not kill all of them like they were instructed. Verse 16, look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord."

"Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him." Now look what he said in verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"Behold, these caused the children of Israel,"

that is these Moabites, these Midianites,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"they caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor."

So here's a plague among the people which I'm going to mention in just a moment. And that plague was because of the counseling of Balaam to Balak. How did the Midianites and the Moabites get God to curse Israel? Through the counsel of Balaam.

Let me show it to you again. Look in your Bibles to the book of Revelation chapter 2 and verse 14. Revelation 2 verse 14. Here the Lord is talking to the church at Pergamos. Revelation 2 verse 14. God says,

Scripture Reading — Revelation 2:14

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

What does he say? Balaam taught Balak. "Oh, Balak, you wanted me to curse Israel? I can't curse Israel. God won't let me do that. But, Balak, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll teach you how to get God to curse Israel Himself. I'll get my fee."

It just will not be through divination. Now, what did Balaam counsel and teach Balak to do? I want you to turn back in your Bibles to Numbers 25. This is very important. Listen carefully. What did Balaam teach Balak to do? He taught Balak to seduce the people into fornication and idolatry. Because he knew that when the people did that, God would curse them himself. Verse 1, Numbers 25,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-9

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. Look, and the people did eat and bow down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of these men that were joined unto Baal Peor."

"And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, took a javelin in his hand, and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand." Now, in one plague, God killed 24,000 Israelites because of fornication and idolatry. Are you listening?

Applications: Victory Through Obedience

Weaver applies the lesson: what the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. Victory comes only through obedience; an unholy people is powerless and cannot avail themselves of God's power.

Do you understand that a holy, godly, obedient life is absolutely necessary for success and victory? Now, let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. You know this. As long as Israel obeyed, she was blessed. Whenever she disobeyed, she was cursed. Let me spell it out to you in one simple sentence. Victory comes only through obedience.

Now do you begin to see why our enemies want us to be unholy and ungodly? Now do you begin to see why there is so much filth in the movies, on TV, and in our magazines? You know why? Because an unholy, disobedient people is a cursed people, and they are not to be feared. An unholy, disobedient people is a corrupt people. They are not to be feared. Why? Because they're powerless in and of themselves, and if they're unholy and corrupt, they cannot avail themselves to the power of God.

Remember what David said in Psalm 66 and verse 18? He said, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." All our enemies have to do is to get us to compromise and to be disobedient and corrupt ourselves. And we destroy ourselves. We cannot avail ourselves of the power of God as long as we're in rebellion and disobedience to him. Secondly, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Micah. Chapter 6. One of the minor prophets. Micah. Chapter 6. Micah is right after the book of Jonah. Right before the book of Nahum. Micah. Chapter 6. And look if you would please at verse 5. We're still making an application. Micah 6. Verse 5. Look what God says.

Scripture Reading — Micah 6:5

"O my people. Remember now what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, that you may know the righteousness of the Lord."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Micah 6:5

"O my people, you better remember what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him."

He said it's vitally important. Why? That you might know the righteousness of the Lord. God is righteous and God will not put up with sin. He will not honor our foolishness. He will not honor our disobedience. And in fact, his anger at Numbers chapter 25 was nothing less than a demonstration of his righteousness. Do you remember that the Hebrew word for righteousness and the Hebrew word for justice are one and the same? It's the same word.

Because whatever is right is just. Whatever is just is right. God righteously and justly destroyed those people in Numbers 25 because of their fornication and their idolatry. Let me spell it out again. Are you listening? If we want victory, it must be on God's terms. And His terms are holiness and obedience.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Error of Balaam

Summary: Balaam's error was loving the wages of unrighteousness, leading him to counsel Balak to corrupt Israel so God would curse them.

Evidence: Jude 11: 'ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward'; 2 Peter 2:15: 'who loved the wages of unrighteousness'; Numbers 31:16: 'through the counsel of Balaam'.

Sovereignty of God in Blessing and Cursing

Summary: Only God can make a curse or blessing effectual; man's curses are powerless against those God has blessed.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:5: 'the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing'; Romans 8:33: 'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?'

Corruption as a Weapon of the Enemy

Summary: When the enemy cannot control God's people, he seeks to corrupt them through sin, leading to self-destruction.

Evidence: Numbers 25:1-3: Israel committed whoredom and idolatry; Revelation 2:14: doctrine of Balaam taught stumbling blocks.

Obedience as the Condition for Victory

Summary: Victory and blessing come only through holiness and obedience; disobedience brings God's curse.

Evidence: Micah 6:5: 'that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord'; Psalm 66:18: 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.'

The Danger of Compromise in the Church

Summary: The doctrine of Balaam tolerates sin in the church, teaching that belief alone is sufficient regardless of conduct.

Evidence: Revelation 2:14: 'thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam... to commit fornication.'

Key Arguments

Balaam was not a true prophet of God

Summary: Balaam is called a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22), a practice God condemns; God delivered Israel from Balaam's hand (Joshua 24:10), and God can use unsaved men like Caiaphas to speak truth.

Evidence: Joshua 13:22: 'Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer'; Joshua 24:10: 'I delivered you out of his hand'; John 11:49-51: Caiaphas prophesied though an unbeliever.

Balaam's greed drove his disobedience

Summary: Though God initially forbade him to go, Balaam sought permission again because he valued monetary reward over obedience, as seen in his eagerness to go without waiting for the men to call him.

Evidence: Numbers 22:12, 18-21: God said 'Thou shalt not go,' but Balaam rose up and went; Jude 11: 'ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward.'

Balaam's counsel caused Israel's downfall

Summary: Unable to curse Israel directly, Balaam taught Balak to seduce Israel into idolatry and fornication, resulting in God's plague that killed 24,000.

Evidence: Numbers 31:16: 'through the counsel of Balaam'; Numbers 25:1-9: Israel's sin and the plague; Revelation 2:14: 'Balaam... taught Balak to cast a stumbling block.'

Cursing and blessing belong to God alone

Summary: Balak's belief that Balaam could curse or bless was false; only God can make a curse or blessing effectual, as demonstrated when He turned curses into blessings.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:5: 'the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing'; Romans 8:33-34: 'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?'

Obedience is necessary for God's blessing

Summary: Israel was blessed when obedient and cursed when disobedient; victory comes only through holiness and obedience, not through compromise.

Evidence: Micah 6:5: 'that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord'; Psalm 66:18: 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.'

Scripture References

Jude 1:11

Context: Introduction of the three errors: way of Cain, error of Balaam, gainsaying of Kor.

2 Peter 2:15

Context: Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Numbers 22:1-21

Context: Balak's call to Balaam and Balaam's initial obedience and subsequent disobedience.

Numbers 22:22-35

Context: The angel opposes Balaam; the donkey speaks.

Numbers 22:36-38

Context: Balaam arrives humbled, saying he can only speak God's words.

Numbers 23:10

Context: Balaam's wish to die the death of the righteous.

Numbers 24:10-14

Context: Balak's anger and Balaam's offer to advertise (counsel) Balak.

Numbers 25:1-9

Context: Israel's sin at Peor and the plague of 24,000.

Numbers 31:16

Context: Moses reveals that the Midianite women caused Israel's trespass through the counsel of Balaam.

Deuteronomy 23:4-5

Context: God turned Balaam's intended curse into a blessing because He loved Israel.

Joshua 13:22

Context: Balaam the soothsayer was slain by Israel.

Joshua 24:9-10

Context: God would not hearken to Balaam and delivered Israel from his hand.

Micah 6:5

Context: Remember Balak's consultation and Balaam's answer to know the righteousness of the Lord.

Romans 8:33-34

Context: No one can condemn God's elect; God justifies.

Revelation 2:14

Context: The doctrine of Balaam in the church at Pergamos: teaching to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols.

John 11:47-52

Context: Caiaphas, though an unbeliever, prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.

Proverbs 21:1

Context: The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.

Psalm 66:18

Context: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

1 Samuel 2:30

Context: Them that honor me I will honor.

Historical References

Savings and loan bailouts of the early 1990s

Context: Used as an illustration of bailouts benefiting the few at the expense of the many, including the Silverado savings and loan managed by Neil Bush.

War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) and federal money distribution

Context: The South supplied 75% of federal treasury funds, which were distributed to northern states, contributing to Southern discontent.

George Lutz, The Origin of the Late War

Context: Quoted regarding the distribution of surplus revenue to northern states in 1833.

President James Buchanan

Context: Cited as stating the South had not received its share of treasury money and faced unjust discrimination.

Pogo the Possum comic strip

Context: Quoted: 'We have met the enemy and he is us,' illustrating self-destruction through corruption.

Important Quotes

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 Kor.

Significance: Introduces the three errors, focusing on Balaam's error as motivated by reward.

Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Significance: Highlights Balaam's love for money as the root of his error.

Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his.

Significance: Shows Balaam's desire for a righteous end without a righteous life.

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor.

Significance: Reveals that Balaam's counsel led to Israel's sin and God's judgment.

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Significance: Applies Balaam's error to the church, warning against tolerating sin.

What the enemy cannot control, he corrupts.

Significance: Summarizes the strategy of the enemy to destroy God's people through corruption.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Significance: Emphasizes that disobedience cuts off access to God's power.

Them that honor me I will honor.

Significance: God's promise that blessing follows obedience.

Discussion Questions

In what ways might Christians today 'run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward'?

Context: Based on the explanation of 'ran greedily' as bursting forth like a torrent without regard for God.

How does the story of Balaam's donkey speaking challenge or strengthen your view of God's sovereignty?

Context: Weaver argues that God can use any means, even a donkey, to accomplish His purposes.

Why is it significant that cursing and blessing are in God's hands and not man's? How should this affect our response to criticism or opposition?

Context: Deuteronomy 23:5 and Romans 8:33-34 show that only God can make a curse or blessing effectual.

What are some modern examples of the enemy corrupting what he cannot control?

Context: Weaver states that the enemy corrupts through media, entertainment, and compromise.

How does the doctrine of Balaam manifest in churches today?

Context: Revelation 2:14 warns against teaching that tolerates sin, such as fornication and idolatry.

What does it mean to 'know the righteousness of the Lord' through remembering Balaam's counsel?

Context: Micah 6:5 calls God's people to remember Balak and Balaam to understand God's righteous judgment.

How can we guard against the subtle temptation to compromise for personal gain?

Context: Balaam sought a counseling fee when he could not get a cursing fee, showing the danger of rationalizing disobedience.

Applications

Pursue holiness and obedience for victory

Summary: Victory comes only through obedience; an unholy, disobedient people cannot avail themselves of God's power.

Evidence: Psalm 66:18: 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me'; Micah 6:5: 'that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.'

Reject the doctrine of Balaam in the church

Summary: The church must not tolerate teaching that permits sin, such as fornication and idolatry, under the guise of grace.

Evidence: Revelation 2:14: 'thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam... to commit fornication.'

Trust God's sovereignty over curses and blessings

Summary: Do not fear man's curses or rely on man's blessings; only God can make them effectual.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:5: 'the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing'; Romans 8:33: 'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?'

Guard against the love of money

Summary: Balaam's error began with loving the wages of unrighteousness; believers must prioritize obedience over financial gain.

Evidence: 2 Peter 2:15: 'who loved the wages of unrighteousness'; Jude 11: 'ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward.'

Recognize the enemy's strategy of corruption

Summary: When the enemy cannot control believers, he seeks to corrupt them through sin, leading to self-destruction.

Evidence: Numbers 25:1-3: Israel's sin at Peor; Numbers 31:16: 'through the counsel of Balaam.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:00:07Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:44:20Z

Clean Transcript

Balaam's Bail Out

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

The name of the message, and I'll explain it shortly, the name of the message is Balaam's Bailout. You say, what in the world? Well, let's look. Jude, verse 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 Kor." Now note, if you would, "and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." Now, if you will turn back to 2 Peter 2 and look at verse 15. 2 Peter 2, verse 15.
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And the Word of God says this: "Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness." Now note Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Now, I told you I was going to be preaching on Balaam's bailout. Each of us should remember the savings and loan bailouts that occurred in the early 1990s. The savings and loan institutions had basically been ripped off through poor management, but also through fraud and dishonesty.
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It was the American taxpayers who bailed them out. Actually, it was the federal government who bailed them out, but the consequences of that federal bailout was passed along to the American citizens in the form of taxes and inflation. You see, the more money the government pumps into the economy, the less our Federal Reserve notes are worth.
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Now, what many people do not remember or may not remember about that savings and loan fiasco was the Silverado savings and loan was headed and managed by Neil Bush, the brother of President George Bush, and of course, one of the sons of the former President George Herbert Walker Bush. All of us probably also remember the bailout of New York City on several occasions. And of course, now the state of California is crying for money as well. And have you noticed that every state wants and cries out for federal money? And you know, it's interesting that the congressmen are elevated and respected to a greater degree depending upon the amount of federal money that they can bring home to their respective state or to their respective towns. You see, what many people do not understand is simply this. In reality, there is no federal money.
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Now, let me explain that statement. Most do not realize the only federal money that exists is that which is taken from the people through taxation or stolen by inflation or other dishonest measures. Do you realize that one of the issues that caused the War of Northern Aggression, that is the War of 1861 to 1865, commonly referred to as the Civil War, but one of the issues that caused that war was the same issue that is going on today when states are demanding federal money.
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You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, the South supplied 75% of the money for the national treasury. Out of all the money that the federal treasury had, the South supplied 75% of it. Most of the monies were then being given to northern states. George Lutz, who is the author of The Origin of the Late War, said this, I'm quoting, "In 1833, there was a surplus revenue of many millions in the public treasury which, by an act of legislation unparalleled in the history of nations, was distributed among the northern states to be used for public improvements." So who got the money? It was the northern states. It was President James Buchanan, who preceded Abraham Lincoln, by the way, in his message to Congress, he said this, "The South had not had her share of money from the Treasury, and unjust discrimination had been made against her." So what was the South doing? The South was pumping all this money into the federal treasury and then it was being confiscated and taken and given to all the northern states who were supplying hardly any money into the public treasury.
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So very obviously the South got tired of being stolen from and defrauded and ripped off. Now there are many other reasons for that war but that certainly played a part in it. Do you realize that if each state was able to keep its own monies and keep its own taxes and not send that money to the feds, then no state would need federal money.
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Now what does that mean? That means that each of the separate individual states could support the federal government on a limited basis. And therefore, the federal government then would be under the control of the state just like it was originally intended to be in the Constitution of the United States. There would be no unfunded federal mandates. In fact, there would be no mandates at all. Why? Because if the states did not supply the federal government with the money, then the federal government certainly could not do anything. In other words, to control the federal government, all the states would have to do is withdraw or withhold their own monies. Now what is happening is the money is being confiscated not only from the citizens but from the states and then that money is being used then to blackmail the states into doing whatever the federal government wants it to do or those states to do.
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Now I mentioned this just by way of introduction to point out one simple fact, bailouts are not new. Bailouts have been going on for centuries. Bailouts have always been for the prospering of the few at the expense of the many.
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Now, if you look in the book of Jude, verse 11. The book of Jude, verse 11, warns us of three grave errors. First of all, he says, "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain." That is one error, the way of Cain.
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Secondly, "and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." That's the second error. And thirdly, "and perished in the gainsaying of Kor." Now, you'll remember just a few weeks ago when I preached the message entitled Death Wish, I explained and elaborated upon the gainsaying of Kor and showed and demonstrated from scripture that that gainsaying was nothing more than stubbornness and rebellion against God and against God's lawfully ordained authority. It is not necessarily the gainsaying of Kor that I want to deal with today, nor the way of Cain, but basically the error of Balaam. Now, in order to understand the error of Balaam, you have to go back to the historical context. But before we turn back to Numbers 22, I want you to look at several words and phrases with me in Jude verse 11. Notice if you would, the Bible says in verse 11, "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." Now let's stop there. First of all, I want you to look at the phrase, "ran greedily."
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The interesting thing is the Greek word here literally means to have been poured forth like a torrent of water. Just like a river or stream bursts its banks whenever it receives too much rain, this is exactly what the word means. To run greedily means to burst out the bounds. It means to run like a torrent of water. In other words, here is someone who has recklessly not counting the cost. There is something before him that he wants and without regard for anything, without regard for God, without regard for truth, without regard for anything, he bursts forth his banks and he runs after whatever it is he wishes.
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Now the second word I want to point out is the word error. He says they ran greedily after the error of Balaam. The Greek word here is the word planē. It literally means a wandering or a straying. It means one who's been led astray from the right way and he roams hither and thither. The word also refers to a mental straying. It means to have the wrong opinion, the wrong concept, the wrong idea. The word also demonstrates itself in action. In other words, it refers to a wrong way of acting. Now, let me just point out. Balaam's error was first theological, secondly it was mental, and then thirdly it was practical.
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Because he believed wrongly, he thought wrongly, and therefore he acted wrongly. Now if you look in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 and verse 15, notice if you would the practical disobedience to the word of God. 2 Peter 2 and verse 15 he says, "Which have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."
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Now note how these two things go together. Number one, they have forsaken the right way. And number two, they're following the wrong way. Let me put it to you very bluntly. Whenever you forsake the right way, you're always following the wrong way. And so here is the word error, the word error indicates there's always a practical result.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. Because if we understand the error of Balaam, then we've got to go back and look at this historical context. The story is almost like a modern day soap opera in one sense of the word, because it's a story of deceit, greed, and disobedience. And of course it begins in Numbers chapter 22. And first of all let's begin with Balaam's call. Let's begin reading there with verse 1.
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"And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river, of the land by the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land."
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"For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me, and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam, and God came to Balaam and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them, for peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up early in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your own land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you."
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"And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak yet sent again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said unto him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or to do more."
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Now, let's stop there just momentarily. Because one of the first questions that has always been asked of me whenever this story comes up is this question, was Balaam a real prophet? And the answer is, he was certainly a prophet in a general sense of the word, but he was certainly not a prophet of Jehovah. In fact, in the book of Joshua 13, don't turn there, verse 22, we'll turn there a little bit later, but in Joshua 13, verse 22, the Bible calls him Balaam the soothsayer.
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Now, soothsaying, of course, is condemned in Scripture. The Hebrew word for soothsayer is the word qasam, which means to practice divination, it means to divine, it means to determine by use of a lot or a magical scroll.
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Now, let me ask you a question. Since God condemns magic and since God condemns soothsaying, how in the world could Balaam be a real prophet of God? This word, soothsayer, is used in the Bible to denote the false prophets of all the nations, including the false prophets in the nation of Israel as well. You see, God condemns soothsaying and magic, so there's absolutely no way that Balaam could be a prophet of God.
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Hold Numbers chapter 22, but look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 24 in verse 10. Let me show you another verse that not only demonstrates very clearly that Balaam was not a prophet of God. Notice Joshua chapter 24. And look, if you would please, at verse 10, in fact, let's read verse 9 so that you can see that Balaam is in view. Joshua 24, verse 9, "Then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel and sent and called Balaam, the son of Beor, to curse you." Now look what God says. "But I would not hearken unto Balaam."
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"Therefore, he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand." Now, if Balaam was God's prophet, why in the world would the people of Israel have to be delivered out of Balaam's hand? Very obviously, he was not a prophet of God. Now, someone is going to object and they're going to say, well, Balaam either must have been saved or he must have been a prophet of God, for God used Balaam and Balaam prophesied the truth. Well, that's true, God did use Balaam and Balaam did prophesy the truth. But God also used Balaam's ass and the ass spoke the truth. Now, does that make the ass a Christian or a prophet?
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And the answer is no. I'm going to show you that in just a moment. The ass spoke and the ass spoke the truth, but that did not make him a prophet. Moreover, you're going to find that in the Bible, sometimes God uses unsaved men to declare the truth. Let me give you an illustration. Look in your Bibles, hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles at John chapter 11. In John chapter 11, you're going to find a man by the name of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was a high priest. Caiaphas was not only an unbeliever, he was one who helped to persecute Christ. And yet God used him to speak the truth. Notice in John 11, beginning there with verse 47, "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man, that is Jesus, doeth many miracles."
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"If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all."
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Now look what he said. "Nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation perish not."
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Now what did he say? Let's kill Christ that the nation may be preserved. Verse 51, "And this spake he not of himself." In other words, he didn't know what he was saying. "But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."
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Now, was Caiaphas a believer? No. He helped to persecute Jesus Christ, but yet God used him to speak the truth.
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Now, all the incident in Numbers 22, 23, and 24 and John 11 demonstrate is this, that the sovereign God of the universe is in absolute control. He's even in control of unbelievers. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. It's just that simple. You know what the Bible teaches in Proverbs 21 and verse 1? Listen, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord."
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"As rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he pleases." Now if the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and if God controls the king, certainly God controls everyone else and everything else. God is sovereign.
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Now, let's go back to Numbers chapter 22 and let me ask several leading questions. Balak, the king of Moab, and by the way, let me point this out. Sometimes, we just read here in Numbers chapter 22, sometimes they're referred to as the Moabites, sometimes the Midianites. In fact, they went to the elders of Midian, but now Balak is the king of the Moabites. Well, Midian was a son of Abraham through Keturah who went out and possessed the land and the land's name was Midian and the Moabites lived in Midian. That's why sometimes they're called Midianites as well as Moabites as well. Sometimes, for instance, when Joseph, you remember, was sold into slavery, it was the Ishmaelites who came along, but he was sold to the Midianites.
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How do you get all these things straight? Well, Ishmael was a man, and these people were descendants of Ishmael, hence they were called Ishmaelites, but they lived in the land of Midian, so they were Midianites. It's just like I'm a Weaver. I'm a Weaverite, but I'm also a Georgite, okay? So, I live in Georgia. So here, these Moabites were in the land of Midian, so sometimes they're referred to as Midianites and sometimes as Moabites as well, but Balak was king of Moab.
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Now, what did he specifically want Balaam to do? Why did he call Balaam? Well, look in verse 6. He says, "Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land." Now, I want you to look at this next phrase, this last part of this verse. He says, "For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." So he had a great deal of faith in Balaam. Look in verse 11. "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure, I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out." Look in verse 17, it is. Verse 17, once again. "For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people." Now why did he want Balaam to come? The answer is very simple. He wanted him to curse Israel. He wanted him to curse them in such a way that he might be able to prevail against them and overpower them and overcome them. Evidently,
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Balaam had a great reputation as a soothsayer and Balak believed in his power. Now two times, and we just read it, but two times Balak has sent men to Balaam saying, "Come, curse me this people." Now the very first time, Balaam checked with God and God said, "Don't go. You're not allowed to go. Because I blessed the people, you cannot go." And so Balaam rightly tells the men to go back to Balak and say, "I can't come." But Balak then thinks that Balaam is just holding out for a higher reward. And so this time he sends more princes, greater in nobility, greater in rank and authority, and more money. And he says, "Come, curse me this people."
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Well, now you've got to understand something. The first group came in verses 7 through 14. The second group came in verses 15 through 19, and that second group was greater in power and authority and probably promised more money. And the truth is, Balaam really wanted to go. But I want you to note something. He already understood that God did not want him to go. Look in verse 12. "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them. Thou shalt not curse this people, for they are blessed." So he already knew what God wanted. Now watch carefully. Verse 18. After this second group has come, now I promise more rewards. "And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of my God to do less or more." Now look what he says in verse 19.
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"Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say to me more." In other words, I'm going to check with him one more time. I'm going to make sure he hasn't changed his mind. Because I'd really like to go. Now watch verse 20. "And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, if the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them. But yet the word which I shall send unto thee thou shalt do."
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Now, you notice the conditions? If the men come to call you, then you may go. But you're only going to say what I want you to say. But look what happens. Verse 21, "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab." He didn't wait for them to come and call. He just simply got up and went. Why would Balaam be so eager and so ready to disobey truth?
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And the answer is because of money. He valued the monetary reward greater than obedience to God. Remember the phrase that we pointed out in Jude, verse 11, "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward."
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Now, in the next part of the story, God's anger is kindled against them. And God sends an angel to kill him. I want to read this because to me, it's not only humorous, but it also points out the fact the seriousness of disobedience. Notice, if you would please, verse 22. "And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him."
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"Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?"
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"And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there was a sword in mine hand, for now I would kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? And was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand."
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"And he bowed down his head, and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me, and the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now I had slain thee, and saved her life. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me."
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"Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back." Now let's stop. So Balaam is riding the ass, and three times now the ass sees the angel, but Balaam doesn't. And when finally the ass falls down, Balaam is so irritated, he said, "I would there was a sword in my hand, if there was, I'd kill you." And the ass said, "Am not I thine ass? Have you not ridden upon me ever since you got me? Was I ever wont to do such?" And Balaam said, "Nay."
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Now someone asked me, "Brother Weaver, do you really believe that ass talked?" And the answer is yes. I don't have any problem believing in the power of God. God can do whatever He wants. The thing that baffles me in this passage is not that the ass talked, but that Balaam answered him. I mean, can you imagine standing there carrying on a conversation with a donkey? And the funny thing is, the ass asked him, "Was I ever wont to do this?" He said, "Nay." So here the ass is prophesying and the prophet is naying. I mean, you'll catch the play on words in a moment. But anyhow. But God said, "Look, you better be thankful for that dumb ass because had she not seen the angel, you would have been dead and she would have been alive."
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And Balaam says, "Oh, if I have displeased thee, I'll get me back." No, said God, "You started out, you're going." But he said, "I'll tell you what, you're going to understand now that you're either going to obey me or you're going to die." And guess what Balaam does? Balaam chooses that which is in his best interest. And he says, "You know, I think I'm just going to obey you."
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Thus, when he arrives at Balak's place, he's a very humbled and subdued soothsayer. Look in verse 36. "And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him into a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee."
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"Have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak." So, you know, Balaam is not so high and mighty at this point. He's not so haughty. He says, "All I can say is what God will have me to say."
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Now, I want you to note that three times God turns the curses into blessings. I want you to note that three times Balak has tried to get Balaam to curse Israel. And three times God changes the curses into blessings. You'll find that the first one, and we're not going to look at them in detail, the chapter 22 verses 39 through chapter 23 verse 12. That's the first instance. The second one is chapter 23 verses 13 through 24. And the third one is chapter 23 verse 25 through chapter 24 and verse 9. So each instance where Balak takes Balaam, that he may see Israel, so that he may curse them, each time he blesses them. Now, it is not my intent in this message to look at all of these blessings and all these prophecies. They are indeed great, and they are indeed wonderful blessings.
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The point I'm trying to make right now is simply this: that it is God who turned the curses into blessings.
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Now, let me show you the error of Balak. Look back in your Bibles to Numbers 22 and verse 6. Numbers 22, verse 6. Balak asked Balaam, and he says, "Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Peradventure I shall prevail that we may smite them and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." Are you listening?
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Cursing and blessing are in the hands of God, not in the hands of man. Balak believed that Balaam was able to curse and bless, which is not true. If you would hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 at verses 4 and 5. Once again, God is now speaking about the Moabites. Notice if you would. Deuteronomy 23 verse 4. Talking about the Moabites, he says in verse 4, "Because they met you not with bread and water in the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor of Pethor, a Mesopotamian, to curse thee. Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. But the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee." Now, note if you would, "the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam." Cursing and blessing are not in the power of man, but in the power of God. This is vitally important.
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Men may castigate us, they may condemn us, they may despise us, they may hate and betray us, they may curse and condemn us, but all of their oaths and all of their condemnations and all of their efforts are actually useless and powerless. Only God can make a curse effectual. Only God can make a blessing effectual. And none can curse whom God blesses. I want you to hold Numbers 22.
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But turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. I want you to see the importance of this truth. Romans 8. The Apostle Paul uses this argument in demonstrating our preservation in Jesus Christ. Please understand, only God can make a curse effectual. Only God can make a blessing effectual. Therefore, in Romans 8, notice verse 33, the Bible says this, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." Now watch.
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"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
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Now look what he said. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" Then he said, "It is God that justifieth," or it is God that blesses, gives us the blessing of justification. And then he asked, "Who is he that condemneth?" Who can destroy that which God has blessed? Who can undo that which God has done? And the answer is no one. And then he asked, "Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ?" And the answer is no one, nothing. Men may hate us, men may despise us, but they cannot change the blessing of God upon our lives. They may pronounce all of their anathemas against us, but they're powerless. They're useless because he whom God blesses is blessed and he whom God curses is cursed. Cursing and blessing is in the hand of God, not in the hand of man.
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Now, let's go back to Numbers chapter 22. What is Balaam's bailout? Well, Balaam has blessed Balak's enemies three times, on three different occasions. He was supposed to curse them, but God turned the curses into blessings. Needless to say, Balak was unhappy with Balaam. In fact, look in Numbers chapter 24. And look at verse 10. Numbers 24, verse 10. "And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together."
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Boy, you know he's frustrated. "And Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee thou out of my place. I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor." Hmm. What did he say? "I thought to promote you. But God kept you back." I wonder if there's kind of a little threat in that verse 11. "Therefore, now flee thou into thy place."
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In other words, you better get out of my sight before I change my mind. Well. Let me ask you. If Balak is upset and angry. If Balaam has not cursed his enemies the way he desired him. Is there going to be any promotion? Is there going to be any honor for Balaam? Is there going to be any reward? And the answer is obviously no. Balak was not going to pay him for blessing his enemies. Now. How in the world could it be said that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness if he didn't get any wages?
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I'll come back to that in just a moment. Here's the second thing I want you to see. Not just Balaam's call. Secondly, very quickly, Balaam's condemnation. Look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 13. Hold Numbers. We're coming right back there. But turn to Joshua, chapter 13. Joshua, Judges. Joshua, chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 22. Joshua 13, verse 22. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer." I told you earlier the Bible called him a soothsayer. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer."
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"Did the children of Israel slay with a sword among them that were slain by them?" What happened to Balaam? The children of Israel killed him with a sword. Now, clearly Balaam was not a prophet of Jehovah. Why? Because he was condemned to the sword as a heathen and as an enemy.
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Now hold Joshua 13, but go right over in your Bibles to Numbers 23 and verse 10. Look at one of the things that Balaam said as he was blessing Israel. Numbers 23, verse 10. Here's one of the blessings. "Who can count the dust of Jacob and the number of the fourth part of Israel?" Now look what he says. "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his." Now what did Balaam say? "Let me die the death of the righteous. Let my last end be like his." Balaam certainly wanted to die the death of the righteous, but he did not want to live the life of the righteous. And you cannot die the death of the righteous unless you live the life of the righteous.
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Consequently, he died with God's enemies and the enemies of God's people. Look back in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 13 and let's begin reading there with verse 21. Watch carefully: "And all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon dwelling in the country."
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"Balaam also, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them." So Balaam did not die the death of the righteous. He died with the enemies of God and the enemies of God's people. Everything I've preached this morning was to reach this one point. OK, you've seen Balaam's call, Balaam's condemnation, and now I want you to see Balaam's counsel.
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Look in Numbers chapter 24 and verse 14. You see, Balaam still has a card up his sleeve. God would not allow Balaam to curse Israel. And therefore, he lost his reward of divination. After Balak has gotten angry with him and said, "You better flee to your own country before I do something I might be ashamed of," he defends himself. And he says in verse 12, "And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also unto thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind. But what the Lord said, that will I speak."
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"And now behold, I go unto my people. You want to get rid of me? I'm going to go. Come, therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter day."
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Now, you may ask, how could Balaam be said to be one who loved the wages of unrighteousness and be one who ran greedily after reward if he never received it? Well, very obviously, Balak was not going to pay him for blessing his enemies, and he lost his reward of divination. But let me put it like this. Balaam did not receive his cursing fee. But he did receive his counseling fee. He got bailed out. He got his reward. He got his money. Let me put it to you a different way. He did not get paid for cursing. But he got paid for being a consultant. He had his consulting fee, his counseling fee.
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Now, I want you to listen very carefully what I'm about to tell you, because I believe it's vitally important. How do we know that Balaam counseled with Balak and told him what to do? And the answer is obvious, because the scripture tells us. Look at the word "advertise," verse 14. He said, "Now behold, I go unto my people, come therefore, and I will advertise thee." Now the word "advertise" is the Hebrew word ya'ats.
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It means to advise, to counsel, to give counsel, to consult, to consult together, and to deliberate and to counsel together. So he says, "Balak, you come with me. I'm going to give you some consultation. I'm going to give you some counsel." Now. I want you to listen carefully. We must understand Balaam's counsel before we can understand Balaam's bailout. Listen carefully. You've got to understand Balaam's counsel before you can understand Balaam's bailout. What was it that Balak wanted Balaam to do? Someone tell me. Curse Israel. That's what he wanted. Could Balaam curse Israel? No. God stopped him. Balak wanted Israel cursed. Balaam couldn't curse him.
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So Balak then withheld the reward of his divination. But what Balaam could not get by divination, he could get by consultation and counseling because here's what he did. "Balak, God will not let me curse Israel. But I will teach you how to get God to curse Israel himself. What God will not allow me to do, I will get God to do himself." And that's amazing. So it is consultation he's willing then to teach Balak how to get God to curse Israel.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 31. Numbers 31 verses 16 through 18. I'm going to show you he gave him this counsel. Numbers 31 verse 16.
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Now, you've got to understand in chapter 31, God has told Moses and the people to go take care of the Midianites and the Moabites. And here's why. Moses was upset because he had brought back some of the women alive and did not kill all of them like they were instructed. Verse 16, look what he says. "Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord."
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"Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him." Now look what he said in verse 16. "Behold, these caused the children of Israel," that is these Moabites, these Midianites, "they caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor." So here's a plague among the people which I'm going to mention in just a moment. And that plague was because of the counseling of Balaam to Balak. How did the Midianites and the Moabites get God to curse Israel? Through the counsel of Balaam.
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Let me show it to you again. Look in your Bibles to the book of Revelation chapter 2 and verse 14. Revelation 2 verse 14. Here the Lord is talking to the church at Pergamos. Revelation 2 verse 14. God says, "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." What does he say? Balaam taught Balak. "Oh, Balak, you wanted me to curse Israel? I can't curse Israel. God won't let me do that. But, Balak, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll teach you how to get God to curse Israel Himself. I'll get my fee."
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It just will not be through divination. Now, what did Balaam counsel and teach Balak to do? I want you to turn back in your Bibles to Numbers 25. This is very important. Listen carefully. What did Balaam teach Balak to do? He taught Balak to seduce the people into fornication and idolatry. Because he knew that when the people did that, God would curse them himself. Verse 1, Numbers 25, "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. Look, and the people did eat and bow down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of these men that were joined unto Baal Peor."
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"And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, took a javelin in his hand, and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand." Now, in one plague, God killed 24,000 Israelites because of fornication and idolatry. Are you listening?
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Here's the point of my entire message. What the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. If our enemies cannot overcome us, if they cannot defeat us, if they cannot destroy us, all they have to do is to get us to compromise and corrupt ourselves. And we'll destroy ourselves. We shall not be defeated by our enemies, but by ourselves. You remember Pogo the Possum? Used to be on the water tower here in Waycross. Comic strip. Pogo the Possum was the one who said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." We have met the enemy and he is us. The point I'm making is this, folks. None of our enemies can control us. You know why? Because God is sovereign. God is in control. We're in His hand. But if they cannot control us, in order to destroy us, they will corrupt us.
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Do you understand that a holy, godly, obedient life is absolutely necessary for success and victory? Now, let me make just a couple of applications. The first one is this. You know this. As long as Israel obeyed, she was blessed. Whenever she disobeyed, she was cursed. Let me spell it out to you in one simple sentence. Victory comes only through obedience.
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Now do you begin to see why our enemies want us to be unholy and ungodly? Now do you begin to see why there is so much filth in the movies, on TV, and in our magazines? You know why? Because an unholy, disobedient people is a cursed people, and they are not to be feared. An unholy, disobedient people is a corrupt people. They are not to be feared. Why? Because they're powerless in and of themselves, and if they're unholy and corrupt, they cannot avail themselves to the power of God.
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Remember what David said in Psalm 66 and verse 18? He said, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." All our enemies have to do is to get us to compromise and to be disobedient and corrupt ourselves. And we destroy ourselves. We cannot avail ourselves of the power of God as long as we're in rebellion and disobedience to him.
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Secondly, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Micah. Chapter 6. One of the minor prophets. Micah. Chapter 6. Micah is right after the book of Jonah. Right before the book of Nahum. Micah. Chapter 6. And look if you would please at verse 5. We're still making an application. Micah 6. Verse 5. Look what God says. "O my people. Remember now what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, that you may know the righteousness of the Lord." He said, "O my people, you better remember what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him."
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He said it's vitally important. Why? That you might know the righteousness of the Lord. God is righteous and God will not put up with sin. He will not honor our foolishness. He will not honor our disobedience. And in fact, his anger at Numbers chapter 25 was nothing less than a demonstration of his righteousness. Do you remember that the Hebrew word for righteousness and the Hebrew word for justice are one and the same? It's the same word.
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Because whatever is right is just. Whatever is just is right. God righteously and justly destroyed those people in Numbers 25 because of their fornication and their idolatry. Let me spell it out again. Are you listening? If we want victory, it must be on God's terms. And His terms are holiness and obedience.
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Now, go in your Bibles to Revelation 2, verse 14 one more time. I've already read it, but I'm making an application. Watch carefully, Revelation 2, verse 14. How many of you have ever heard preachers say, "Well, it really doesn't matter how you live, just so you believe in Jesus Christ." I've heard people say that. Tell you what, a lot of people may not say that, but they surely practice it. It does matter how you live, because if you truly and savingly believe in Jesus Christ, you will live biblically and scripturally. But look again, I just want to show you Revelation 2 and verse 14. What did God tell the church of Pergamos?
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"But I have a few things against thee." What is it? "Because thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." What are they saying? "Well, it's all right to do what you want to do just so you believe in Christ." That's what they're saying.
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This was a church, the church at Pergamos, and they were teaching there it was all right to commit fornication and to sacrifice to idols. That's kind of like me saying, "Well, now, folks, God doesn't really like adultery, but he understands." No, he doesn't understand. He condemns it. He forbids it. He punishes it. What is the error of Balaam? It's not just desiring money, but it's when you corrupt people and get God to curse them. God's people. And that's why he's shouting out against these people in Revelation chapter 2 of the church of Pergamos. One last application, folks. And here it is. We must grasp the importance and the impact of God's cursings and blessings.
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You'll find them in Deuteronomy 28. You'll find them in Leviticus 26. Let me tell you something. I'm not afraid of man. Man can curse me all he wants. Because I know that man does not have the power to make his curse effectual. But when God curses us, he can make it stick. Man may say, "I bless you," but he does not have the power to make that blessing effectual. But when God blesses us, he makes it stick. Cursing and blessing are not in the hands of man, but they're in the hand of God. And we can say to Him, "He whom thou cursest is cursed, and he whom thou blessest is blessed." And if you want to be blessed, then you must be obedient.
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For 1 Samuel 2 verse 30, the Lord says, "Them that honor me I will honor," saith the Lord. Remember, whatever the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. And once you're corrupted, you've destroyed yourself. Let's pray. Father, we are thankful today for the truth of your word. We're thankful, Father, for the warnings that you've given us. And Lord, we pray that you would indeed keep us from the way of Cain, the error of Balaam, and the gainsaying of Kor. We pray, Father, that we would understand how important it is to live a holy, godly, obedient life. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:00:07Z

Balaam's Bail Out

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines the error of Balaam from Jude 11 and Numbers 22–25, showing that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and, when prevented from cursing Israel, counseled Balak to seduce Israel into idolatry and fornication so that God Himself would curse them. The message warns that what the enemy cannot control, he corrupts, and that victory comes only through holiness and obedience.

Introduction: Bailouts and the Error of Balaam

Weaver introduces the concept of bailouts using the savings and loan crisis and federal money, then turns to Jude 11 to identify the error of Balaam as one of three grave errors.

The name of the message, and I'll explain it shortly, the name of the message is Balaam's Bailout. You say, what in the world? Well, let's look. Jude, verse 11:

Scripture Reading — 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 Kor."

Now note, if you would,

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:11

"and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward."

Now, if you will turn back to 2 Peter 2 and look at verse 15. 2 Peter 2, verse 15. And the Word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:11

"Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

The Meaning of 'Ran Greedily' and 'Error'

The Greek words for 'ran greedily' and 'error' are explained: 'ran greedily' means to burst forth like a torrent, and 'error' (planē) indicates a wandering from the right way in thought and action.

Balaam's Call and Disobedience

Balak summons Balaam to curse Israel. God forbids it, but Balaam, enticed by reward, seeks permission again and goes without waiting for the men to call him, revealing his greed.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

"And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river, of the land by the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, that I may drive them out of the land."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

"Then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel and sent and called Balaam, the son of Beor, to curse you."

Now look what God says. "But I would not hearken unto Balaam."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

And the answer is no. I'm going to show you that in just a moment. The ass spoke and the ass spoke the truth, but that did not make him a prophet. Moreover, you're going to find that in the Bible, sometimes God uses unsaved men to declare the truth. Let me give you an illustration. Look in your Bibles, hold Numbers 22, but look in your Bibles at John chapter 11. In John chapter 11, you're going to find a man by the name of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was a high priest. Caiaphas was not only an unbeliever, he was one who helped to persecute Christ. And yet God used him to speak the truth. Notice in John 11, beginning there with verse 47, "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man, that is Jesus, doeth many miracles."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-21

Now, was Caiaphas a believer? No. He helped to persecute Jesus Christ, but yet God used him to speak the truth. Now, all the incident in Numbers 22, 23, and 24 and John 11 demonstrate is this, that the sovereign God of the universe is in absolute control. He's even in control of unbelievers. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. It's just that simple. You know what the Bible teaches in Proverbs 21 and verse 1? Listen, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord."

The Angel, the Donkey, and Balaam's Humbling

God's anger is kindled; an angel opposes Balaam. The donkey sees the angel and speaks, and Balaam's eyes are opened. He is humbled and told to speak only God's words.

Curses Turned to Blessings

Three times Balak tries to have Israel cursed, but God turns each curse into a blessing, demonstrating that cursing and blessing are in God's hand alone.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:4-5

"Because they met you not with bread and water in the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor of Pethor, a Mesopotamian, to curse thee. Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. But the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee."

Now, note if you would,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:4-5

"the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam."

Cursing and blessing are not in the power of man, but in the power of God. This is vitally important.

Balaam's Condemnation and Counsel

Scripture Reading — Numbers 24:10-14

I'll come back to that in just a moment. Here's the second thing I want you to see. Not just Balaam's call. Secondly, very quickly, Balaam's condemnation. Look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, chapter 13. Hold Numbers. We're coming right back there. But turn to Joshua, chapter 13. Joshua, Judges. Joshua, chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 22. Joshua 13, verse 22. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer." I told you earlier the Bible called him a soothsayer. "Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Who can count the dust of Jacob and the number of the fourth part of Israel?"

Now look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his."

Now what did Balaam say?

Scripture Reading — Numbers 23:10

"Let me die the death of the righteous. Let my last end be like his."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 24:10-14

"And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also unto thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind. But what the Lord said, that will I speak."

"And now behold, I go unto my people. You want to get rid of me? I'm going to go. Come, therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter day."

The Counsel Executed: Israel's Sin at Peor

Balaam taught Balak to seduce Israel into whoredom and idolatry. Israel joined to Baal Peor, and God's anger resulted in a plague killing 24,000.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 31. Numbers 31 verses 16 through 18. I'm going to show you he gave him this counsel. Numbers 31 verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord."

"Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him." Now look what he said in verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"Behold, these caused the children of Israel,"

that is these Moabites, these Midianites,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 31:16

"they caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor."

Scripture Reading — Revelation 2:14

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-9

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. Look, and the people did eat and bow down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of these men that were joined unto Baal Peor."

Applications: Victory Through Obedience

Weaver applies the lesson: what the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. Victory comes only through obedience; an unholy people is powerless and cannot avail themselves of God's power.

Scripture Reading — Micah 6:5

"O my people. Remember now what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, that you may know the righteousness of the Lord."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Micah 6:5

"O my people, you better remember what Balak, king of Moab, consulted, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him."

Balaam's Bail Out

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	690416112
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation: Conflict, Babylon, and Victory
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-06-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 141: Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	88

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: Bailouts and the Error of Balaam: Weaver introduces the concept of bailouts using the savings and loan crisis and federal money, then turns to Jude 11 to identify the error of Balaam as one of three grave errors.
The Meaning of 'Ran Greedily' and 'Error': The Greek words for 'ran greedily' and 'error' are explained: 'ran greedily' means to burst forth like a torrent, and 'error' (planē) indicates a wandering from the right way in thought and action.
Balaam's Call and Disobedience: Balak summons Balaam to curse Israel. God forbids it, but Balaam, enticed by reward, seeks permission again and goes without waiting for the men to call him, revealing his greed.
The Angel, the Donkey, and Balaam's Humbling: God's anger is kindled; an angel opposes Balaam. The donkey sees the angel and speaks, and Balaam's eyes are opened. He is humbled and told to speak only God's words.
Curses Turned to Blessings: Three times Balak tries to have Israel cursed, but God turns each curse into a blessing, demonstrating that cursing and blessing are in God's hand alone.
Balaam's Condemnation and Counsel: Balaam is later slain by Israel as a soothsayer. Though he lost his cursing fee, he received a counseling fee by advising Balak how to make God curse Israel through seduction into idolatry and fornication.
The Counsel Executed: Israel's Sin at Peor: Balaam taught Balak to seduce Israel into whoredom and idolatry. Israel joined to Baal Peor, and God's anger resulted in a plague killing 24,000.
Applications: Victory Through Obedience: Weaver applies the lesson: what the enemy cannot control, he corrupts. Victory comes only through obedience; an unholy people is powerless and cannot avail themselves of God's power.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Balaam was not a true prophet of God

Balaam is called a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22), a practice God condemns; God delivered Israel from Balaam's hand (Joshua 24:10), and God can use unsaved men like Caiaphas to speak truth.

Joshua 13:22: 'Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer'; Joshua 24:10: 'I delivered you out of his hand'; John 11:49-51: Caiaphas prophesied though an unbeliever.

Balaam's greed drove his disobedience

Though God initially forbade him to go, Balaam sought permission again because he valued monetary reward over obedience, as seen in his eagerness to go without waiting for the men to call him.

Numbers 22:12, 18-21: God said 'Thou shalt not go,' but Balaam rose up and went; Jude 11: 'ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward.'

Balaam's counsel caused Israel's downfall

Unable to curse Israel directly, Balaam taught Balak to seduce Israel into idolatry and fornication, resulting in God's plague that killed 24,000.

Numbers 31:16: 'through the counsel of Balaam'; Numbers 25:1-9: Israel's sin and the plague; Revelation 2:14: 'Balaam... taught Balak to cast a stumbling block.'

Cursing and blessing belong to God alone

Balak's belief that Balaam could curse or bless was false; only God can make a curse or blessing effectual, as demonstrated when He turned curses into blessings.

Deuteronomy 23:5: 'the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing'; Romans 8:33-34: 'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?'

Obedience is necessary for God's blessing

Israel was blessed when obedient and cursed when disobedient; victory comes only through holiness and obedience, not through compromise.

Micah 6:5: 'that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord'; Psalm 66:18: 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.'

Scripture References

Jude 1:11: Introduction of the three errors: way of Cain, error of Balaam, gainsaying of Kor.
2 Peter 2:15: Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness.
Numbers 22:1-21: Balak's call to Balaam and Balaam's initial obedience and subsequent disobedience.
Numbers 22:22-35: The angel opposes Balaam; the donkey speaks.
Numbers 22:36-38: Balaam arrives humbled, saying he can only speak God's words.
Numbers 23:10: Balaam's wish to die the death of the righteous.
Numbers 24:10-14: Balak's anger and Balaam's offer to advertise (counsel) Balak.
Numbers 25:1-9: Israel's sin at Peor and the plague of 24,000.
Numbers 31:16: Moses reveals that the Midianite women caused Israel's trespass through the counsel of Balaam.
Deuteronomy 23:4-5: God turned Balaam's intended curse into a blessing because He loved Israel.
Joshua 13:22: Balaam the soothsayer was slain by Israel.
Joshua 24:9-10: God would not hearken to Balaam and delivered Israel from his hand.
Micah 6:5: Remember Balak's consultation and Balaam's answer to know the righteousness of the Lord.
Romans 8:33-34: No one can condemn God's elect; God justifies.
Revelation 2:14: The doctrine of Balaam in the church at Pergamos: teaching to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols.
John 11:47-52: Caiaphas, though an unbeliever, prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.
Proverbs 21:1: The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.
Psalm 66:18: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
1 Samuel 2:30: Them that honor me I will honor.

Historical References

Savings and loan bailouts of the early 1990s: Used as an illustration of bailouts benefiting the few at the expense of the many, including the Silverado savings and loan managed by Neil Bush.
War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) and federal money distribution: The South supplied 75% of federal treasury funds, which were distributed to northern states, contributing to Southern discontent.
George Lutz, The Origin of the Late War: Quoted regarding the distribution of surplus revenue to northern states in 1833.
President James Buchanan: Cited as stating the South had not received its share of treasury money and faced unjust discrimination.
Pogo the Possum comic strip: Quoted: 'We have met the enemy and he is us,' illustrating self-destruction through corruption.

Important Quotes

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 Kor.

Introduces the three errors, focusing on Balaam's error as motivated by reward.

Who have forsaken the right way and are going astray, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Highlights Balaam's love for money as the root of his error.

Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his.

Shows Balaam's desire for a righteous end without a righteous life.

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor.

Reveals that Balaam's counsel led to Israel's sin and God's judgment.

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Applies Balaam's error to the church, warning against tolerating sin.

What the enemy cannot control, he corrupts.

Summarizes the strategy of the enemy to destroy God's people through corruption.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Emphasizes that disobedience cuts off access to God's power.

Them that honor me I will honor.

God's promise that blessing follows obedience.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways might Christians today 'run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward'?

[Context]

Based on the explanation of 'ran greedily' as bursting forth like a torrent without regard for God.

[Question]

How does the story of Balaam's donkey speaking challenge or strengthen your view of God's sovereignty?

[Context]

Weaver argues that God can use any means, even a donkey, to accomplish His purposes.

[Question]

Why is it significant that cursing and blessing are in God's hands and not man's? How should this affect our response to criticism or opposition?

[Context]

Deuteronomy 23:5 and Romans 8:33-34 show that only God can make a curse or blessing effectual.

[Question]

What are some modern examples of the enemy corrupting what he cannot control?

[Context]

Weaver states that the enemy corrupts through media, entertainment, and compromise.

[Question]

How does the doctrine of Balaam manifest in churches today?

[Context]

Revelation 2:14 warns against teaching that tolerates sin, such as fornication and idolatry.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'know the righteousness of the Lord' through remembering Balaam's counsel?

[Context]

Micah 6:5 calls God's people to remember Balak and Balaam to understand God's righteous judgment.

[Question]

How can we guard against the subtle temptation to compromise for personal gain?

[Context]

Balaam sought a counseling fee when he could not get a cursing fee, showing the danger of rationalizing disobedience.

Applications

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