Counsel of Balaam

Counsel of Balaam

Numbers 31:16 – Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Peor – which resulted in the plague among the community of the LORD!

What was the counsel of Balaam? Since Balaam, by God’s command, could not be made to curse the Israelites, he took a different approach. Balaam’s counsel to Balak was to send the daughters of Moab into the Israelite camp and invite the Israelites to join the sacrifices of their gods. Lure them using their lusts and they will fall.

Numbers 25:1 – When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. 2 – These women invited the people to their sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 – When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel.

King Solomon – wisest of all the kings also fell into this trap, loving many women of other faiths, he began to worship their gods and suffered greatly as a result.

A plague from the LORD killed 24,000 people. Balak’s victory, however, was short-lived. Some time later Midian was dealt a crushing blow in a decisive war against Israel in which 5 kings of Midian, all their males and their sexually active women perished. Special mention is made that Balaam also perished in this war.

What is the lesson for us today? Beware of accepting the counsel of Balaam. Let us not allow lust to determine our relationships or we will end up worshiping false gods in order to keep our unhealthy relationships.

The counsel of God is this:

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 – And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?

Verse 16 – And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 – Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “And touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, 18 – and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.

Do you hunger for meaningful, healthy, relationships? Check out these verses as well: Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 – And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The All-powerful Lord is a protective Father. Let us trust Him to lead us into healthy relationships that will guard our hearts and minds for heaven.