LESSONS FROM BALAAM

Balaam was a prophet of the Most High God. As such, I might assume that he was a man of integrity, a man free from the love of money, a man of God. But that was not the case. When Jesus wrote to the church at Thyatira in Revelation, our Lord harkened back to Balaam, urging the church there not to tolerate his teaching in their midst. What lessons can I learn from Balaam? Some powerful ones.

1. When God tells me something, do not come back and ask Him a second time. Balaam asked God if he could go, and God said no. When the men came back with more money this time, God permitted him to go with them, only with severe warnings not to compromise. Likewise, when Israel asked for a king, God said no. But when they continued to pester Samuel about it, they were permitted, but with great warning. God didn't want Balaam going, and Balaam knew it. That was the beginning of his problem.

2. God speaks through asses, and He has done so ever since. It is not the reputation of the prophet that makes his words true, it is the message. God put words into a donkey's mouth. Am I less gifted? Is that person that God uses to deliver a painful message to me less gifted? I must listen carefully and weigh the message, not the messenger.

3. Perhaps a prophet should not be paid. This is a little controversial, and I have to work it out, but I'm thinking that if a prophet is paid (especially if he is paid well), there is a conflict of interests that is not healthy. Balaam was paid in advance, and supposedly was immune to that conflict of interests by telling his benefactor that he would only say what the Lord told him. Yet, we find out in Revelation that Balaam talked out of both sides of his mouth. He blessed the people of Israel, and then told the king how he could defeat them by causing them to compromise. There is a problem when the prophet is beholden to the people that he addresses. Even indirect sources of income, such as book sales or honoraria, can bring compromise, as we are tempted to write or say what will generate the most money.

While a message may be separated from the messenger, it is still the duty of the messenger to be pure before the Lord.

"LORD, thank you for the warnings about Balaam. Keep me on your path, and cause me to walk with You rather than pursue the acceptance of people or their money. Let me be like Jesus, who was as pure as He was poor. In His name I ask it. Amen."
-ker