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Patriarchs and Prophets
and his covetousness, which had been merely held in check, prevailed.
He was ready to resort to any means to gain the reward promised by
Balak. Balaam knew that the prosperity of Israel depended upon their
obedience to God, and that there was no way to cause their overthrow
but by seducing them into sin. He now decided to secure Balak’s favor
by advising the Moabites of the course to be pursued to bring a curse
upon Israel.
He immediately returned to the land of Moab and laid his plans
before the king. The Moabites themselves were convinced that so long
as Israel remained true to God, He would be their shield. The plan
proposed by Balaam was to separate them from God by enticing them
into idolatry. If they could be led to engage in the licentious worship
of Baal and Ashtaroth, their omnipotent Protector would become their
enemy, and they would soon fall a prey to the fierce, warlike nations
around them. This plan was readily accepted by the king, and Balaam
himself remained to assist in carrying it into effect.
Balaam witnessed the success of his diabolical scheme. He saw
the curse of God visited upon His people, and thousands falling under
His judgments; but the divine justice that punished sin in Israel did
not permit the tempters to escape. In the war of Israel against the
Midianites, Balaam was slain. He had felt a presentiment that his
own end was near when he exclaimed, “Let me die the death of the
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righteous, and let my last end be like his!” But he had not chosen to
live the life of the righteous, and his destiny was fixed with the enemies
of God.
The fate of Balaam was similar to that of Judas, and their characters
bear a marked resemblance to each other. Both these men tried to
unite the service of God and mammon, and met with signal failure.
Balaam acknowledged the true God, and professed to serve Him ;
Judas believed in Jesus as the Messiah, and united with His followers.
But Balaam hoped to make the service of Jehovah the steppingstone
to the acquirement of riches and worldly honor; and failing in this he
stumbled and fell and was broken. Judas expected by his connection
with Christ to secure wealth and promotion in that worldly kingdom
which, as he believed, the Messiah was about to set up. The failure
of his hopes drove him to apostasy and ruin. Both Balaam and Judas
had received great light and enjoyed special privileges, but a single
cherished sin poisoned the entire character and caused their destruction.