The way of Balaam

 2 Pet 2:15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 

 

The story of Balaam seems a bit strange at first. Because when you read the story in the OT it seems like he was hearing from and following Gods word. When Balak the King wanted Balaam to curse Israel, he made it clear that he could nothing against Gods word. Balaam refused 4 times to curse Israel, since God told him not to, and blessed Israel instead. So why is Peter saying this about Balaam? One verse in the OT reveals this. Num 31:16 tell us that Balaam counseled the Midian women to seduce the men of Israel to commit adultery with them. In that way Israel brought curse upon them selves. Balaam had no power to bring curse upon Gods people, but instead he got them to bring curse upon them selves.

 

This is what the Devil is doing today as well. He has NO power over Gods people. He can’t curse you, or bring any bad things upon you. But he knows Gods word. So instead he seduces you to bring curse upon yourself. Paul says CURSED is anyone who doesn’t love the Lord. So if the Devil can make you love the world and not love the Lord, he makes YOU bring curse upon yourself. Paul said if anyone preaches another gospel than him let him be accursed. So if the Devil can make you change or twist the gospel, he makes you bring curse upon yourself.

 

The bottom line is this: The Devil has no authority over our lives. All he can do is to cause us to do it. So as long as we stay close to God, and love God and not the things of this world, we are under the blessings of God, and the Devil cannot reach us.