The Doctrine of Balaam

By

Shelby G. Floyd

October 6, 2009

While in exile on the island of Patmos, the apostle John wrote seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. These letters were from the seven Spirits, Jesus Christ and God the Father (Revelation 1:4-6).

The second letter is addressed to the angel (messenger) of the church in Pergamos. After praising the church for the good things they stood for, he rebuked the church sharply for tolerating some in the church who held to “the doctrine of Balaam,” “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14, NKJV).

This reference to Balaam and Balak and what they tried to do and did do to Israel, is found in the Old Testament book of Numbers 22-25. Balaam was a prophet of divination that was paid handsomely for either blessing or cursing a people. Israel had vanquished the Amorites and now the Moabites are filled with dread that the same thing will happen to them: “The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field” (Numbers 22:4). Balak, the king of Moab realizes he must do something quick to avoid disaster.

Balak summons Balaam to come and curse Israel and he will honor him with riches. But God commands Balaam not to go because he has blessed Israel. Balaam appears to want to obey God, but he also wants the riches. Eventually he goes to carry out the disobedience, but God sent an angel to oppose him as he rode on his donkey. When the donkey saw the angel with a sword in his hand he balked three times and three times Balaam in his anger beat the donkey. At this point the donkey spoke in the voice of a man. In the New Testament Peter rebuked some who were also disobeying God in the same way by referencing them to the story of Balaam: “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:14-16, KJV).

Balaam tried every way he could to curse Israel for money, but each time there was a string of oracles that blessed Israel. Finally, he changed his strategy by teaching Israel to take up with the Moabite women and commit fornication and worship their idols: "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people” (Numbers 31:16). As a result of “the doctrine of Balaam” Israel was seduced by Moab and God brought a plague upon his people and 24,000 died.

Satan will try to work with people to get them to curse the people of God today. If that doesn’t work then he will try to get God’s people to commit sexual immorality and fornication. It is noteworthy that in the introduction of the letter to the church in Pergamos we read, "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword” (Revelation 2:12). Just as the angel with a sharp sword opposed the madness of Balaam, so will the Lord Jesus Christ oppose those who try to curse the church and or seduce his people to commit fornication and idolatry. In fact the letter to this church says that the guilty must “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).

God will oppose all who seek to curse his people today. He does so with his sharp two-edged sword, which is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13). We must also oppose any effort to teach “the doctrine of Balaam” of seducing God’s people to commit sexual immorality. It is rampant in every segment of our society from top officials in the government, Hollywood, in every workplace neighborhood, and yes, even many churches. It must not be tolerated in the body of Christ—the church. Let every faithful Christian reject “the doctrine of Balaam.” Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved