Doctrine of the Error of Balaam
(1)-Balaam was a Mesopotamian prophet. He was a Gentile who lived in the city of
Pethor on the Euphrates River north of Palestine. Num 22:5.
(2)-Balaam was a believer in the God of Israel (Jesus Christ).
A-He asked for the Lord's will, and to some extent he followed it. Num 22:8, 13, 18,
38.
B-Balaam would not go to Balak the king of Moab without divine permission. Num 22:20.
C-The angel of the Lord (Jesus Christ) met and conversed with Balaam. Num 22:32.
D-The Lord put words in Balaam's mouth. Num 23:5.
E-Balaam calls the Lord his God. Num 22:18.
F-The Holy Spirit came upon Balaam. Num 24:2
(3)-God told Balaam not to go to Moab. Num 22:12.
(4)-Balaam disobeyed God and went to Moab anyway. Num 22:21.
(5)-Balaam was offered money and power if he would curse the Jews for Balak the
king of Moab. Num 22:17.
(6)-In his negative attitude toward the truth, Balaam even became cruel to animals.
Num 22:23, 25, 27.
(7)-Balaam tried to curse the Jews three times because of his love for money and
power, but each cursing was turned to blessing by God's overruling will. Num 23:7-10; 23:18-24; 24:3-9.
(8)-Since Balaam could not curse the Jews because of God's overruling will, he
devised a plan to get the Jews out of fellowship so God could not bless them. And his
plan was to use the beautiful Midianite women to get the Jewish men involved in idol worship, which involved much sexual activity. Num 31:16.
(9)-There are three New Testament passages dealing with Balaam.
A-II Pet 2:14-15, "With eyes full of adultery they never stop sinning; they seduce
the unstable; they are experts in greed, an accursed brood. They have left the
straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who
loved the wages of wickedness."
B-Jude 11, our passage,"....the error of Balaam..."
C -Rev 2:14, in the letter to the church in Pergamum. "Nevertheless, I have a few
things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols
and by committing sexual immorality."
Since Balaam died the sin unto death, I want to give you the doctrine of the sin unto
death.