Yesterday we started the story of the false prophet, Balaam. Now for the rest of the story.
Numbers 25 “If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again” We often hear this quote when others are failing and we want to encourage them but not so fast! In today’s episode, we find that King Balak was not one to give up and Balaam also was one who attempted to straddle the fence and other writers fill in the blank of what took place. Unable to succeed in cursing Israel, Balaam instructed Balak how to snare the Israelites through sexual immorality.
“the king of Moab, (Balak) launched an attack against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment on you.” [Joshua recalling the history]
“they (Moabites) had not met the Israelites with food and water, but instead had hired Balaam to curse them…” [Nehemiah and Moses]
“they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” [Peter]
Speaking to the church in Pergamum we learn that the teachings of Balaam had infiltrated the church with the snare of food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. [Rev 2]
These verses fill in the missing pieces of Satan’s work in our story which now brings us back to Numbers where we find that all of what other writers had noted actually happened. Yes, the Israelites were guilty but Satan was behind it all. That is why we must be careful of his traps.
Satan does not give up. If he fails one time, he will just come back again another way. Be on your guard! Satan may set up the trap but we are the ones who suffer the consequence. In this case, 24,000 died.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That is why God says to us:
Know the law, Know the Word so this question will not be asked of you:
What will be the consequence of your sin?
