THE UNTOLD STORY OF BAALAM? The Story of Balaam Num 22:1-7, 8-12; God (Elohim) protects His children. The Saving Donkey Num 22:22-33 THE WARNING AT PERGAMUM Rev 2:12-14 WNT "To the minister of the Church at Pergamum write as follows: "'This is what He who has the sharp, two-edged sword says. I know where you dwell. (13) Satan's throne is there; and yet you are true to Me, and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas My witness and faithful friend, who was put to death among you, in the place where Satan dwells. (14) Yet I have a few things against you, because you have with you some that cling to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak (King of Moab) to put a stumbling-block in the way of the descendants of Israel--to eat what had been sacrificed to idols, and commit fornication. Stumbling Block #1 / Eating = Fellowship with false religion Deuteronomy 4:1-5; Num 24:1-9, 10-11; Psalm 106:28-31 H1187 פּעור בּעל ba al pe ôr BDB Definition: Part of Speech: noun proper masculine Baal-peor = lord of the gap 1) the deity worshipped at Peor with probable licentious rites This false god s name was Chemosh to the Moabites. A horned god which was heatedup, and its outstretched arms were ready to receive the children the Moabites place there. Read: 2 Kings 3:26-27 Chemosh was thought of as the Subduer, Destroyer, and the Fish god. Also identified with Baal-peor, Baalzebub, Mars and Saturn. Chemosh (Faussets Bible Dictionary) The "abomination" (i.e. idol, in Scripture's contemptuous phrase) of Moab (Num_21:29; Jer_48:7; Jer_48:13-46). Depicted on coins with sword, lance, and shield, and two torches at his side. Ammon, from its close connection with Moab, also worshipped Chemosh, but Moloch (kin) was their peculiar deity (Jdg_11:24). Solomon introduced, and Josiah overthrew, Chemosh worship in Jerusalem. A black star, according to Jewish tradition, was his symbol, whether as identical with Mars or Saturn. Jerome states that Dibon was his chief seat of worship. A black stone was the Arab symbol of him. The inscribed black stone set up at Dibon, lately discovered, is full of the Moabite king Mesha's praises of Chemosh as the giver of his martial successes against Israel. (See MOAB; DIBON.) Derived from kabash, to vanquish. Idolatry originated in appropriating to separate deities the attributes combined in the one true God. "Ashtar Chemosh," mentioned on the Moabite stone, connects the Moabite and the Phoenician worship. Ashtar is the masculine of Astarte, an androgynous god, combining the active and passive powers of nature. Chemosh required human sacrifices as god of war; Mesha, after taking Ataroth, offered all the warriors in sacrifice. Stumbling Block #2 / Seduction = Fornication, Adultery Num 25:1-3; Num 31:8, 16; Psalm 106:28-31 a bible study by C R O S S R O A D S Ministries 1 of 5
THE UNTOLD STORY OF PROPHET BALAAM Almost all modern day western ministers/pastors (95%) follow the footsteps of Prophet Balaam. So, why do some follow Balaam s way unsuspectingly? Balaam was a prophet of YHWH. That is, he was a person who talked with YHWH and who also heard the voice of God - the man whose eyes are open. There was a time in his life when he was, perhaps, a good prophet who served YHWH and did what God said. As one reads In Numbers 22 to 24 we see that Balak, King of Moab, called Balaam to come and curse his enemies which were the children of Israel. The royal officers of King Balak took money for divination (prophecy) so that they could pay Balaam. For some reason, Balaam told them to stay at his place so that he can ask YHWH about this. We then see God telling Balaam Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on Israel, because they are blessed. Balaam then refused to go with the royal officers. King Balak was so persistent that he sent his princes to Balaam once again with more wealth and money in attempt to seduce Prophet Balaam. But after a great deal of pressure (Balaam was being tempted), Balaam started to become weak (material desire for wealth and money). He began to see the riches that he would receive in a different way. Balaam s weakness for money and the material things promised to him by king Balak took a toll on his life, and he succumbed to his flesh. He went with the Moabite ambassadors, and he disobeyed God (Elohim). Covetousness - COVETOUSNESS, n. 1. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice. 2. Strong desire; eagerness. COVETOUSNESS AND GREED Read: Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thess 2:5; Hebrews 13:5; Mark 7:20-23 Covetousness & greed moved Balaam to mount his donkey and head in the direction of error. Balaam compromised his calling (by not listening to YHWH), and sold his divine calling for money. He gradually began to submit to the wishes of king Balak of Moab before the end of his life. This made Balaam teach the children of Israel to worship idols and commit immorality. And, he did it for riches & money. a bible study by C R O S S R O A D S Ministries 2 of 5
Many churches/movements, ministers/pastors/rabbis, and Christian evangelists have preached the message of YHWH-Saves (Jesus/Yahushua) in exchange for money/salary. For Example: That is, if you want to know the truth and the good news of God s Kingdom, you need to buy my books, DVDs and CDs. You want to be blessed (be prosper) by YHWH, support our ministry to spread the good news to the whole world (donate to us) to get a blessing from YHWH. For a donation, you can receive a special monthly teaching from us. These types of prophets have basically sold YHWH and His message in exchange for money. They in turn create the clergy class, minister and laity. These preachers deceive the innocent with their flawed teaching and set them on the path of destruction. People are encouraged to give money and invest in their ministries saying that they are doing God s work, and are expecting to receive huge returns (God will bless you for supporting their ministry). Many people are taught that giving money in the form of Gross Income Tithes and donations will make them rich through God s blessing. Nowhere in the Scriptures is it taught hat if you give your money to a Church Ministry or to a Local Church that you will be blessed a hundred times more. The Scriptures do say, however, that if you GIVE (you do it yourself) help the poor, orphans and the widows, you will be blessed. Give personally, as Yeshua the Messiah shows you. (PLEASE, don t hand your money to an organization expecting they will give it the way you want it to). Read: Matthew 6:1-4 A common-sensed person will know that if you invest your money with a church ministry it cannot provide you with any extra special blessing. Making money has nothing to do with what you give or don t give to a church ministry. Giving money to a church ministry will not make you rich, but poor. BALAAM in Hebrew means not of the people, Strong s concordance number H1109. In the Messianic scriptures, Balaam is exposed by Jesus (Yahushua) as a type of false teacher who brings false teachings in exchange for money. Stumbling Block #3 / The Wages of Unrighteousness 2 Peter 2:14-16; Jude 1:11 False prophets are like Balaam because they love the wages (money) of unrighteousness. They want to be paid for their preaching, teaching, prophecy, a bible study by C R O S S R O A D S Ministries 3 of 5
professing, and proclamations. Sharing the Good News is a job rather than a mandate from scripture. When we read the story of Balaam in Numbers we find that Balaam was more interested in the rewards of divination than he was in the rewards of being a true prophet of God. Don t be deceived by church ministries and all movements. In many ways they do have some truth in them, but their main goal is to pull your money out from you by any means under the banner: We need to do God s work and we have a small window of opportunity to do God s work, so give to our church/ministry/movement. Excerpt from the BOOK OF YASHER 85:33-63 33 And the children of Israel journeyed and came into the plain of Moab which is on this side of Jordan, by Jericho. 34 And the children of Moab heard all the evil which the children of Israel had done to the two kings of the Amorites, to Sihon and Og, so all the men of Moab were greatly afraid of the Israelites. 35 And the elders of Moab said, Behold the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, who were more powerful than all the kings of the earth, could not stand against the children of Israel, how then can we stand before them? 36 Surely they sent us a message before now to pass through our land on their way, and we would not suffer them, now they will turn upon us with their heavy swords and destroy us; and Moab was distressed on account of the children of Israel, and they were greatly afraid of them, and they counselled together what was to be done to the children of Israel. 37 And the elders of Moab resolved and took one of their men, Balak the son of Zippor the Moabite, and made him king over them at that time, and Balak was a very wise man. 38 And the elders of Moab rose up and sent to the children of Midian to make peace with them, for a great battle and enmity had been in those days between Moab and Midian, from the days of Hadad the son of Bedad king of Edom, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, unto these days. 39 And the children of Moab sent to the children of Midian, and they made peace with them, and the elders of Midian came to the land of Moab to make peace in behalf of the children of Midian. 40 And the elders of Moab counselled with the elders of Midian what to do in order to save their lives from Israel. 41 And all the children of Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now therefore the children of Israel lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field, for thus did they do to the two kings of the Amorites who are stronger than we are. 42 And the elders of Midian said to Moab, We have heard that at the time when Sihon king of the Amorites fought against you, when he prevailed over you and took your land, he had sent to Beor the son of Janeas and to Balaam his son from Mesopotamia, and they came and cursed you; therefore did the hand of Sihon prevail over you, that he took your land. 43 Now therefore send you also to Balaam his son, for he still remains in his land, and give him his hire, that he may come and curse all the people of whom you are afraid; so the elders of Moab heard this thing, and it pleased them to send to Balaam the son of Beor. 44 So Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab sent messengers to Balaam, saying, 45 Behold there is a people come out from Egypt, behold they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. 46 Now therefore come and curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me, peradventure I shall prevail to fight against them, and drive them out, for I heard that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and whom thou cursest is cursed. 47 So the messengers of Balak went to Balaam and brought Balaam to curse the people to fight against Moab. 48 And Balaam came to Balak to curse Israel, and the Lord said to Balaam, Curse not this people for it is blessed. 49 And Balak urged Balaam day by day to curse Israel, but Balaam hearkened not to Balak on account of the word of the Lord which he had spoken to Balaam. 50 And when Balak saw that Balaam would not accede a bible study by C R O S S R O A D S Ministries 4 of 5
to his wish, he rose up and went home, and Balaam also returned to his land and he went from there to Midian. 51 And the children of Israel journeyed from the plain of Moab, and pitched by Jordan from Beth-jesimoth even unto Abel-shittim, at the end of the plains of Moab. 52 And when the children of Israel abode in the plain of Shittim, they began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 53 And the children of Israel approached Moab, and the children of Moab pitched their tents opposite to the camp of the children of Israel. 54 And the children of Moab were afraid of the children of Israel, and the children of Moab took all their daughters and their wives of beautiful aspect and comely appearance, and dressed them in gold and silver and costly garments. 55 And the children of Moab seated those women at the door of their tents, in order that the children of Israel might see them and turn to them, and not fight against Moab. 56 And all the children of Moab did this thing to the children of Israel, and every man placed his wife and daughter at the door of his tent, and all the children of Israel saw the act of the children of Moab, and the children of Israel turned to the daughters of Moab and coveted them, and they went to them. 57 And it came to pass that when a Hebrew came to the door of the tent of Moab, and saw a daughter of Moab and desired her in his heart, and spoke with her at the door of the tent that which he desired, whilst they were speaking together the men of the tent would come out and speak to the Hebrew like unto these words: 58 Surely you know that we are brethren, we are all the descendants of Lot and the descendants of Abraham his brother, wherefore then will you not remain with us, and wherefore will you not eat our bread and our sacrifice? 59 And when the children of Moab had thus overwhelmed him with their speeches, and enticed him by their flattering words, they seated him in the tent and cooked and sacrificed for him, and he ate of their sacrifice and of their bread. 60 They then gave him wine and he drank and became intoxicated, and they placed before him a beautiful damsel, and he did with her as he liked, for he knew not what he was doing, as he had drunk plentifully of wine. 61 Thus did the children of Moab to Israel in that place, in the plain of Shittim, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel on account of this matter, and he sent a pestilence amongst them, and there died of the Israelites twentyfour thousand men. 62 Now there was a man of the children of Simeon whose name was Zimri, the son of Salu, who connected himself with the Midianite Cosbi, the daughter of Zur, king of Midian, in the sight of all the children of Israel. 63 And Phineas the son of Elazer, the son of Aaron the priest, saw this wicked thing which Zimri had done, and he took a spear and rose up and went after them, and pierced them both and slew them, and the pestilence ceased from the children of Israel. a bible study by C R O S S R O A D S Ministries 5 of 5