Jude ver. 11.
THE apostle Peter speaks of “the way of Balsam” as characterizing those who would privily bring in damnable heresies. (2 Pet. 2.) And He who walks amidst the seven candlesticks denounces those who “held” and those who “taught” the doctrine of Balsam. (Rev. 2:14, 2014But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)
20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20).) There is necessarily a close connection between “the error,” “the way,” and “the doctrine of Balsam.” But “the way,” and “the doctrine” of Balsam seem to have sprung from his “error.” “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balsam.” (2 Peter 2:1515Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (2 Peter 2:15).) Mistakes, ignorance, and blunders, every christian will find more or less in the retrospect of his own course; but he has an High Priest “who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way.” But there is an error which God leaves to work out its own consequences, whether resulting in open apostasy, or severity of discipline; and that error is, after God’s will has been plainly declared, to cherish the desire to depart from it, and to construe God’s permission to have our own way into an approval of our own way. Such was the error of Balsam. Such the error even of saints, when God “grants them their own desire,” even as He did to Israel in the wilderness. (Ps. 78:29-31.) Such the error so prevalent throughout Christendom, which regards itself so complacently as the legitimate fruit of the mission of Christ—an error issuing “in strong delusion” and awful judgment. (2 Thess. 2:11, 1211And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12).)
Nothing could be more decided than the commandment of God to Balsam, when the messengers of Balak first came to ask him to come and curse Israel. “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” (Numb. 22:1212And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. (Numbers 22:12).) Balsam began by tampering with the divine commandment. He does not tell the messengers of Balsam the whole truth. “Get you, says he, into your own land; for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.” (vs. 13.) Balsam thus showed that his heart was to go with them; that the commandment of the Lord laid him under an uneasy restraint; which the temptation of higher honor and greater rewards might cause him to burst. His heart was not right with God. “He loved the wages of unrighteousness.” On the arrival of Balak’s messengers the second time, the leaning of Balsam’s heart was made manifest. He both felt and owned that he was under the restraining power of God’s hand; but instead of acting on the decisive commandment which he had received from the Lord, he bids the messengers to wait, “that (says he) I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.” The commandment of the Lord was plain and positive. First, “Thou shalt not go with them.” Secondly, “Thou shalt not curse them, for they are blessed.” Nothing more was needed; but Balsam by seeking more, was seeking to have the restraint of the Lord removed from Him, in order that he might have his own way. Viewed in this light the error of Balsam is not uncommon. There is often a tendency in our hearts to get from under the force of some plainly revealed commandment of the Lord, in order to have our own will. Happy for us when it pleases God by one pressure and another to bring us into acquiescence with His “good, acceptable, and perfect will.” But heavy and sorrowful is that discipline, when God allows us to have our own way, only to prove its folly in its necessary consequences, which are ever known unto God.
On his second waiting upon God, Balaam is allowed to have his way; but had he not been blinded by covetousness, by the very condition attached to it he might have seen that it would not end in honoring him, but in establishing the blessing of the people of Israel. “And God came unto Balsam by night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.” The Lord gave Balsam the desire of his heart, but it was in judgment. Be He did to Israel; “He gave them their desire, and sent leanness withal into their soul.” The Lord often rebukes the waywardness of His people by referring to the instinct of animals. “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the Lord.” (Jer. 8:77Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. (Jeremiah 8:7).) But Balaam “was rebuked for his iniquity by the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice.” Balaam hastened on his ass to go greedily after his covetousness; and the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; but Balsam saw not the angel ready to destroy him. Once and again he smote the ass for not going on; and then the ass fell down under Balsam, and expostulated with him, speaking with man’s voice. Even this miracle does not arrest him. He was so mad upon his idol, that he could not see destruction before him; but when his eyes were opened by the Lord, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and the sword drawn in his hand, then he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. What instruction have we here! the error of construing God’s permission of our ways into approval of them, is “madness.” Destruction is before us in our own ways; and if we are permitted to go on in them it will assuredly overtake us. God used the tongue of Balsam’s ass to rebuke Balsam; and then He used Balsam’s tongue to utter some of the most glorious prophecies recorded in Scripture. Balsam could not get license to curse, however he might be permitted to run after his covetousness. God can use what instruments He pleases, either to announce or to accomplish His purposes; but the highest gifts, if there be not grace in the heart, profit not the possessor: they are used by God as the tongue of Balsam’s ass was used. Balsam was “a prophet;” he “heard the words of God, and saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open;” and he saw blessing and glory for others, but not for himself. Caiaphas subsequently prophesied that it was “expedient that one man should die for the people.” (John 11:49-5249And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:49‑52).) God used the tongue of Caiaphas as He had used the tongue of Balsam’s ass. In a day when talent is admired and has its price, it is profitable to meditate on the error of Balsam. Much truth may forcibly be presented to others, by those who have never tasted it themselves. The eyes may be opened, the understanding enlightened, and men may even prophecy in the name of Jesus (Matt. 7:2222Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22)), and yet they may be “running greedily after the error of Balsam for reward.”
The error of Balaam in thinking that what God permits He therefore approves, will help to account for the actual state of Christendom. Men complacently glory in the result of their willing departure from the truth of God. But notwithstanding the thoughts of men, God’s purpose with respect to His Church remains undisturbed, even as all Balsam’s waywardness, instead of hindering, confirmed the blessing of Israel. “O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balsam the son of Bear answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.” (Math 6:5.) “There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.” (Prov. 21:3030There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30).)
But evil doctrine can do that which enchantment and persecution cannot effect, even bring dishonor on Israel, and sore judgment from the hand of the Lord. A deceived heart had turned Balsam aside, and after all the illustrious prophecies his mouth had uttered, Balaam taught Balak a lesson by means of which Israel might be brought under the judgment of God; although Balak could not prevail against them. The friendship of the Moabites prevailed, where Balsam’s mouth and Balak’s power could do nothing. It was through “the counsel of Balaam that Israel committed trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.” (Num. 31:1616Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. (Numbers 31:16).) “Balsam taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14); Num. 25:1-31And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. (Numbers 25:1‑3).) How intimately connected is the error with the doctrine of Balaam. And the same error has led from the days of the apostles unto our own days to the same doctrine, namely, that the friendship of the world is helpful to the children of God, instead of being enmity against God. Learning and eloquence are much oftener used to overlay sound doctrine than to help it; and to prove the possibility, and not the impossibility, of the service of God and mammon. Men have so widely departed from the doctrines of grace, which only are according to godliness, that to contend for these doctrines gives offense as being narrow-minded and uncharitable. All the external persecution to which the church has been subjected has not prevailed to make so much havoc of it, as the withering blight of false doctrine which has sprung up from within.
In what does “the error,” “the way,” “the doctrine,” “the counsel of Balaam,” issue? He is found amidst the enemies of the Lord, in open rebellion against Him, and perishes with his associates. In the great battle of the Lord, recorded Num. 31, Israel “slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain: Balsam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.” In that great day of the Lord which is approaching, where will all those who have run after the error of Balaam be found, when there must be decision either for Christ or against Him? Where will be found in that day talents, eloquence, and extensive human influence, which have dazzled men, obscured the glory of Christ, and substituted human inventions for the truth of God? “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” “Woe unto them, they have ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward.”