Why the World is in Woe: The Error of Balaam

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." (Jude 11)

In the last post, I wrote about the Way of Cain, in which man wanted to approach God through his own efforts, disdaining the blood as the sole means of atonement and cleansing before God.

Cain's efforts speak of man-centered religion, which ignores the fundamental reality that man is dead, needs life, and this life must be purchased through the incorruptible blood of Jesus, not man's efforts.
Not through his work, through religious exercises, or penance of any kind, but through the blood of Jesus, which speaks better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12: 24).

Now, what is the error of Balaam which Jude speaks of next?

The Error of Balaam: Seeking Ungodly Gain (at One's Peril)

"Error" also speaks of wandering, deception, or delusion.

Man is not just trying to justify himself before God through His own efforts, but he is seeking to enrich himself through his own efforts, despising the riches of God's grace and embracing unrighteousness as a reward.

The account of Balaam connects with the book of Numbers, or wanderings, in which the Israelites had rejected the perfect promises of God's Promised Land, yet God did not reject His people.

One of the enemies of Israel, Moab, wanted to place a curse on the Israelites so that they would not become too numerous and overtake them.

So, Balak the King of Moab hired a professional wizard named Balaam to curse the Israelites:

"And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." (Numbers 22: 4-6)

Right away, the LORD told Balaam that there was no way that he could curse His people:

"And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you." (Numbers 22: 12-13)

Still, the greedy running of Balaam has not yet occurred.

This passage sheds light on the Error of Balaam:

"15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 17For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. 20And God came unto Balaam at 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.

Balaam finally heeded the talking donkey.