The Snare of New Evangelicalism-part 5
Numbers 22-24
When we will not believe God’s Word and submit to His authority we are in big trouble. We cannot establish our own authority, unless a person wants to join a cult. When there is no clear authority, then chaos follows. That is what we are seeing in N.E. today. There are various different styles of services offered depending on what your particular flavour might be. There are different ideas on what God really says regarding marriage, life, even salvation. The bottom line seems to be, ‘just love Jesus’ and smile.
Back in Numbers 22, we see that Balaam did not curse Israel. That was good for him. His cursing would not have done anything to Israel. They would not have helped Balak in his pursuit to destroy Israel. God is greater than the devil and He will look after His children. There is an interesting verse in Numbers 24:1
Numbers 24:1
“1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.”
If Balaam truly knew the Lord, he would not have needed to wait for an ‘experience’ before he could believe God. He would have simply believed God because God said so. The true child of God does not build his or her life on experiences. The life is built upon God’s truth. The life is first of all given by God through salvation, and then further developed through walking faithfully with God.
We are not given the details of Balaam’s further discussions with Balak and his people, however we are told further on in Numbers 31:
Numbers 31:8
“8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.”
Numbers 31:16
“16 Behold, 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.”
Balaam had counselled Balak and his people to find a way to compromise with Israel. That way appears to be in encouraging intermarriage between the ungodly and the people of Israel. In the mind of the lost this would be a far more effective way to deal with Israel than to try to wipe them out. Balak would encourage his men to marry the daughters of Israel and thus break down the clear wall of separation that God requires of His children. Compromise is a poison that destroys godly people.