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Prophecy for Pay, April 16
Numbers 22
They have abandoned the right road and wandered off to follow the old
trail of Balaam, son of Beor, the man who had no objection to wickedness
as long as he was paid for it.
2 Peter 2:15
, Phillips.
Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had apostatized,
and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still professed to be a servant of
the Most High. He was not ignorant of God’s work in behalf of Israel; and when
the messengers announced their errand, he well knew that it was his duty to refuse
the rewards of Balak and to dismiss the ambassadors. But he ventured to dally
with temptation, and urged the messengers to tarry with him that night, declaring
that he could give no decided answer till he had asked counsel of the Lord.
Balaam knew that his curse could not harm Israel. God was on their side, and so
long as they were true to Him no adverse power of earth or hell could prevail
against them. But his pride was flattered by the words of the ambassadors, “He
whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.” The bribe
of costly gifts and prospective exaltation excited his covetousness. He greedily
accepted the offered treasures, and then, while professing strict obedience to the
will of God, he tried to comply with the desires of Balak....
The sin of covetousness, which God declares to be idolatry, had made him
a timeserver, and through this one fault Satan gained entire control of him.
It was this that caused his ruin. The tempter is ever presenting worldly gain
and honor to entice men from the service of God. He tells them it is their
overconscientiousness that keeps them from prosperity. Thus many are induced
to venture out of the path of strict integrity. One wrong step makes the next
easier, and they become more and more presumptuous. They will do and dare
most terrible things when once they have given themselves to the control of
avarice and a desire of power. Many flatter themselves that they can depart from
strict integrity for a time, ... and that having gained their object, they can change
their course when they please. Such are entangling themselves in the snare of
Satan, and it is seldom that they escape
[113]
21
Ibid., 439-440
.
115