The Error of Balaam

Balaam is one of the prime Biblical examples of a false prophet given to the end time church.

Balaam thought he had:
1. Good intentions
2. A faithful attitude
3. A right standing with God

But, what made Balaam false was a lack of loyalty to what God wanted.
Balaam kept asking God to hear what BALAAM wanted to hear ... The thing that would result in his own personal increase:

Numbers 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ” 12And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to give me permission to go with you.” 14And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” 15Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they. 16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17‘for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ” 18Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19“Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”

20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

God gives us over to our own will! We need to be jealous that our will is also God's...especially at the expense of relationships with those who have something to give in the way of opportunity, credibility, and better standing. God tests us.

False prophets don't think they have bad intentions. False prophets, shepherds, apostles, et al, generally want to be faithful, they falsely and immaturely believe they are in right standing with God... They just ALSO want their own increase. That is called spiritual "adultery"... Trading God's clear word for increase in the relationships around us, yet convincing ourselves we are somehow still "serving God" in our gifting. God let's this happen to test us. God told Balaam to go... Balaam was being tested.

Wolves in sheep's clothing doesn't mean they are intentionally false... It means something inside doesn't match the outside. Obedience hasn't penetrated their heart... It is skin deep. Deep inside is a dream of self-centered increase, but still a desire to serve God. It's a self serving desire. Balaam's credibility and attractiveness to the world was "knowing God." 

Balaam used God, but didn't think he did.

This is the condition of all men before the Lord unless they have intentionally repented in to depth. If you can't remember when you realized you were false... 

...You still are....

Joel 2:12“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

It is easier to realize that others are false... As motivations are laid bare, as alliances, both in the church and in the politics of the world become apparent... It's harder to see where you are false... Skin deep.

But Jesus sees it. Many, most, according to the Bible, most are skin deep believers walking a wide road to hell:

Matthew 7:14“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

They don't know until it's too late. We won't know until it's too late. Everyone starts self seeking. If you can't remember coming out of it, you haven't:

Matthew 7:22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Even many of the most celebrated "leaders" in the church... They prophesy, cast out demons, and even do wonders. They know all about Jesus... But it is skin deep. They are mostly about alliances with people that add to their own increase. They feel "Holy" and accepted by God because they wrongly believe they are helping His kingdom advance. His kingdom doesn't advance on the surface. It only advances from inside out. Surface obedience cannot bring the kingdom. Like Balaam, it arranges our own judgment:

Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

I'm not talking about "them." I'm talking about you... and me.
Jesus was talking to the church:

Revelation 2:12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14“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. 15“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The immorality began with Balaam's adultery in his relationship with God.  Shallow-thinking believers read this warning to Pergamos and think if they aren't having wrong physical relationships, they are fine with God.  This passage is about a wrong identity.  That spiritual adultery manifests in licentiousness.   

Jesus has given you and I relationships... Even deep affection, and history with others... To test our loyalties. If we won't see how we angle for our own increase, even calling it honoring the people of God, He will judge us.

We have to be a people of decrease, speaking the truth in love, first to ourselves, then to those Jesus loves, while Jesus' revelation increases. Otherwise, we are just false operators in self-serving kingdoms hijacked from Jesus' cross.

If we could see the motivations of our own unrepentant hearts laid bare, we would all cry out in abhorrent shame that we were self-seeking even while He died to all He had as He selflessly sought us and told us the truth.

We don't have to carry that all the way to the end. We can buy gold and be clothed in white. We can change. We can go in and get deeper than self interest and building our ministry. We can get a new name. But, we must, or we will be cast out.

Matthew 23:5“But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.