JUDE: WEEK 2 DAY 3

Jude 1:11 (& Numbers 22-25, 31:16)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion

Did you know there were talking animals in the Bible? In the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-25 and 31:16), we read a fascinating account. On his way to curse the Israelites, this prophet for profit, was stopped by an unmovable donkey. Balaam was so mad that he started to beat the poor animal. The donkey opened his mouth and said, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28). Seemingly unfazed, Balaam argues with the donkey! Finally God opens Balaam’s eyes and lets him see that the donkey wasn’t moving forward because the Angel of Death was ahead of them, ready to kill Balaam. Unfortunately, this experience didn't deter Balaam from trying to usurp God’s will for his own gain. 

Balaam had been called on by the King of Moab, Balak, to curse God’s people. However, Balaam couldn’t do it. Each time he attempted to curse them, he would utter a blessing from God. Now this seems like a good thing, and it was for the Israelites, but not for Balaam. You see, Balaam’s heart wasn’t in it. He wanted to curse the Israelites, because King Balak had offered him money to do so. Balaam was so greedy, that when he was unable to utter a curse, he devised a scheme with King Balak that would cause the Israelites to fall under a curse by disobeying God. Balaam knew that foreign wives would lead the Israelites astray and cause them to worship idols. If they worshiped idols then they would be cursed by God. Balaam created a back door for sin in order to satisfy his own personal gain. 

That was the way for those who followed Balaam’s error; they knew the truth, but they made a decision to seek their own agenda. They taught people to compromise. They taught people to blend the Gospel with other things giving licenses for their greed, sexual immorality, or other selfish gains. 

Compromise sounds like a good thing, and when little children are learning to compromise over a toy, it is. But compromise over truth in the church is deadly. We must not be willing to water down the teachings of Scripture in order to accommodate our sinful nature. 

Have you entered into any dangerous compromises lately?