Moses: Balaam - Be not deceived (Part 2)
Charles E. Wigg
The Counsel of
Balaam: When Balaam reached the plains of Moab, and had been
taken by Balak to different vantage points, and after his idolatrous rituals had
bee performed and the sacrifices offered. He found that he was not able to curse
the people, but instead beautiful words of blessing poured from his wicked
mouth. Balak was angry with him, and was going to send him back to Peor
unrewarded, and in disgrace. However because of the fame of his guest, and also
probably because he feared that the soothsayer might curse him and his people,
he accompanied Balaam a little way on his journey. It was during the early part
of that journey that Balaam revealed his innate cunning. Though he was not able
to curse the people, yet if they yielded to the temptation that he suggested,
then they would bring the curse of God’s anger on themselves. It was the age–old
principle, “If you can’t beat them, then join them”.
In his first
parable Balaam had said, (when inspired by God),”The people shall dwell alone,
and shall not be reckoned among the nations”. Their separation was their
strength, and if Balak and his friends could break that down, then to overcome
them would be simple. In fact they would not have to war with them, but God, who
was a jealous God, and ever demanded (and deserved), the chief place in their
affections, would vent the fury of His anger upon them.
O My
people remember: God spoke so longingly to His people centuries
later, exhorting them thus to remember. (And the word would come to us today;
and let us give heed to it), (Micah 6:5). As the King and the soothsayer began
that journey, and they conversed together between Shittim and Gilgal, there the
wily Soothsayer revealed the masterstroke of his cunning, and counselled Balak
to break down the barriers of separation. He counselled him to fraternize with
the people who should have remained separate. They were cousins after all, they
had continued since the days of Abraham they had continued in that place, and
they had multiplied, under what seemed to be the blessing of God. It was true
that they worshipped idols, and that they had gods other than Jehovah, but still
the had continued to enjoy the temporal blessings of Jehovah.
They had formed
relationships with the Midianites, and they too were the descendants of Abraham,
but they were ”his children according to the flesh”, not “according to the
promise”. Their very friendliness would disarm the unsuspecting children of
Israel. We know from the sad facts of history that Balaam’s plan worked
beautifully, so beautifully that twenty four thousand of the Children of Israel
died without Balak ever having to draw a sword, whereas if he had engaged them
in battle, it is probable that none of them would have lost their lives, but his
armies would have been destroyed.
The
Counsel of Balaam: As we have mentioned earlier in this paper,
the crux of his counsel was ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’. While Israel
pursued a separate path, they were unbeatable, but once they compromised, they
lost their power, their defence was gone. We need to pay heed to the tactics of
the enemy, because they are just the same today. The emphasis today is on love.
And fraternisation with those called “Christians”, if we insist on obedience to
the truth of God’s word, we are accused of being ‘Legalistic’, of being
‘judgemental’, and of ‘having no love’. Let us see to it that such accusations
have no basis, but let us on the other hand, be faithful to the truth of God’s
word. Though those of other denominations may claim to serve and to honour the
same God, and thus to be related to us, to be our cousins, let us not be
deceived by such protestations of affection. Just as the Moabites would readily,
(if possible), bring a curse on the children of Israel, so these “Christians”,
do not hesitate to sin against God, in things such as homosexuality, moral
promiscuity, and welcoming ‘Gay’ men to their pulpits, women as preachers and
even bishops, things too many to be mentioned here. So these people who profess
love to us, really hate what we stand for, and will just as readily curse us
also. [To be
concluded]
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[Reproduced by
permission of the
Author]