Balaam stands among the notorious figures of biblical history, marked by his profound sin and destructive influence on Israel. Known as the Devourer, his name reflects his malevolent nature, and his reputation as a renowned curser from Pethor, near the Euphrates, made him a sought-after figure for those seeking to harm others through spiritual means. Despite his evil character, God spoke to him directly, met him on the road, inspired him by His Spirit, and entrusted him with prophecies about Israel, surrounding nations, and even the Messiah. Yet, Balaam's heart remained driven by greed and pride, leading him to defy God's clear instructions. Balaam's sin was not merely in his initial willingness to curse Israel at the behest of Balak, king of Moab, but in his persistent rebellion against God's will. Though God explicitly commanded him to speak only the words He provided, Balaam repeatedly sought to curse Israel for personal gain, desiring the gold and honor promised by Balak. His disobedience manifested in deception, as he withheld parts of God's messages when communicating with Balak's emissaries, driven by a desire for greater reward. Even when God restrained him, changing his curses into blessings and speaking through extraordinary means, Balaam refused to submit, failing to grasp the connection between obedience and blessing. His actions led to catastrophic consequences, as he ultimately advised the Midianites and Moabites to entice Israel into idolatry and immorality, resulting in the deaths of 24,000 Israelites. Balaam's way of life—seeking the rewards of righteousness without the responsibility of obedience—mirrored a pervasive attitude of wanting divine favor without submission to God's commands. His attempts to manipulate God through sacrifices and negotiations revealed a profound misunderstanding of God's nature, as he tried to impose his will over God's, treating Him as an equal rather than the sovereign Creator. Furthermore, Balaam abused the conditional permission God granted him to go with Balak's men, interpreting it as absolute freedom to pursue his own desires. Ignoring the condition that the men must call on him, he set out with them, bending God's rules to justify his actions. This misuse of liberty as a cloak for vice—greed and the intent to curse—highlighted his refusal to submit to divine authority, ultimately bringing severe consequences upon himself and others.

Balaam's sin reveals a profound spiritual blindness and self-interest that stand in stark contrast to the righteousness God desires. His story unfolds as a warning, set just before Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, mirroring our own time as we stand on the edge of the Kingdom of God. Balaam, a priest-diviner known as a Baru, was internationally recognized for his skill in cursing, hired by Balak of Moab to curse Israel out of unfounded fear. Despite knowing of the True God, Balaam was driven by greed for wealth and prestige, willing to negotiate with both Balak and God for personal gain. He loved the wages of unrighteousness, setting aside any principle to achieve his goals, believing the end justified the means and functioning solely by self-interest rather than godly standards. God stood as an adversary against Balaam, not to harm him initially, but to turn him from his destructive path. When Balaam disregarded God's conditional permission and set out to meet Balak without being asked again, God's anger was kindled. He placed Himself in Balaam's way, visible to the donkey but invisible to Balaam, who remained oblivious to divine intervention. Even as the donkey wisely turned aside to avoid the Angel of the Lord, Balaam, in his blindness, struck her and forced her back onto the perilous path. God narrowed Balaam's way, hedging him in with walls and causing physical pain, yet Balaam failed to recognize God's hand, taking out his rage on the innocent donkey rather than reflecting on his own course. Balaam's spiritual insanity was evident in his willingness to fight against the Maker and Ruler of the universe for his own way. His conversation with the speaking donkey, a miraculous event, did not faze him; he responded as if it were commonplace, showing the depth of his materialistic focus and inability to see beyond immediate gain. He ignored God's repeated attempts to awaken him, remaining consumed with thoughts of reward and prestige from Balak. Even when confronted by the Angel of the Lord with a drawn sword, Balaam's confession of sin was shallow, blaming his blindness and failing to seek true mercy. God declared Balaam's way as reckless and headlong, a path of destruction driven by a lack of foresight and concern for consequences. Ultimately, Balaam's sin was his persistent choice of self over God, setting himself on the side of opposition to the Almighty. God, in His mercy, allowed the natural course of events to unfold, recognizing that Balaam had already set his mind on destruction. This account serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of spiritual blindness and the pursuit of personal gain over obedience to God.

Jude warns of certain men who have crept in unnoticed, turning the grace of our God into lewdness. Specifically, in Jude 11, these men are said to have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, rushing uninhibitedly toward their desires without restraint. Similarly, II Peter 2:15 describes Balaam as one who loved the wages of unrighteousness, forsaking the right way for material gain. In Numbers 22:18-21, Balaam initially declares he cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, yet when God gives conditional permission to go with the men if called, Balaam eagerly departs with the princes of Moab, disregarding God's true intent. His approach reflects a willingness to interpret God's words in a way that suits his desires, taking conditional permission as absolute and using mental gymnastics to justify his actions for personal gain. Blinded by greed for silver and gold, Balaam turns the grace of God into a license for evil. While Balaam was driven by materialism, the men Jude warns about may seek other rewards like influence or prestige. Regardless of the form, the transgression remains the same: compromising with what God says for personal gain. In Revelation 2:14, Christ refers to this as the doctrine of Balaam, linking it to teaching that puts a stumbling block before Israel, encouraging idolatry and sexual immorality. Balaam counseled Balak to lead the Israelites astray while claiming devotion to God, revealing himself as a mercenary at heart, willing to manipulate circumstances to secure earthly rewards despite speaking God's words. The error of Balaam can be summarized as compromising with the Word of God for personal gain, in whatever form that might take.

Balaam's sin, as an example of pride and self-centeredness, reveals a deep struggle with submission to authority. In the account from Numbers, Balaam showed himself to be a compromiser, driven by a lust for wealth and esteem. Despite God's clear command not to go with the Moabites and not to curse Israel, Balaam was unsatisfied and sought to bend God's will to his own desires. He attempted to appear obedient while secretly hoping to convince God to permit his actions, revealing a heart full of self-righteous posturing. When tempted with more money, he returned to God, wishing for a more permissive response, driven by stubborn self-will and a desire to see how much he could get away with. Eventually, God allowed Balaam to go with the Moabites, giving him enough freedom to ensnare himself. Though God overruled Balaam's prophecies, the error of Balaam lay in his persistent attempts to circumvent God's commands while feigning compliance. His proud deceit and refusal to fully submit to divine authority ultimately cost him his life, serving as a stark warning against the dangers of prideful rebellion and the pursuit of personal gain over obedience to God.

During the Days of Unleavened Bread, the theme of fleeing from sin emerges as a critical lesson for Christians, highlighted by the failures of the Israelites in the wilderness. Among their many sins, the incident involving Balaam stands out as a grave warning. Balaam's strategy to undermine Israel was not through direct confrontation or curses, but by introducing Midianite women to lead them into sexual immorality. This tactic proved devastatingly effective, felling the Israelites more powerfully than any army could. As a result, 24,000 people perished in a single incident—23,000 by a plague from God and 1,000 by direct intervention—demonstrating the severe consequences of such sin. This event underscores the danger of sensual temptations, which can easily derail even the strongest, and serves as a sobering reminder to remain vigilant and disciplined in the Christian walk toward the Kingdom of God.