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BEWARE OF BALAAMS, SHEEP IN WOLVES’ SKIN

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Sir,

In the New testament, Jesus and the apostles warned us to beware of false prophets. A few false prophets are mentioned in the Bible, but there is one false prophet, Balaam, who receives more attention than all the other false prophets combined.

When Peter warns us about false prophets, he compares them to Balaam. Peter says that false prophets ‘have forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness’ (2 Pet. 2:15). Jude, likewise, compares false prophets to Balaam, and says they ‘ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward’ (Jude 11). Therefore Balaam is set forth in holy scriptures to reveal the patterns by which false prophets operate.

Balaam’s story spans three lengthy chapters in the Bible, so lengthy and so significant that some Jews were of the opinion that these three chapters (Numbers 22-24) should be regarded as ‘the Book of Balaam’. Balaam was a non-Israelite who lived during the time of Moses. He had a reputation of being a reliable prophet. Whomever Balaam pronounced blessed was blessed, and whomever Balaam pronounced cursed was cursed. Balaam’s prophetic gift and his spiritual experiences were genuine. They were not imagined or satanic counterfeits.

Tempting

Unfortunately Balaam had a problem, he loved wealth. It happened that there was a king called Balak, who had a tempting offer for Balaam. Balaam requested Balak to curse Israel and he will receive riches in return. Balaam knew he could not curse those whom God had blessed. So he had to think of some way to get that wealth. It was Balaam’s love for money that caused him to forsake the right way, the way in which he had been walking with God.

When Christ spoke to the church in Pergamos, one of the things He rebuked them for was for having ‘them that hold the doctrine of Balaam’ (Rev. 2:14). Balaam is the poster boy for false prophets. Remember what Christ said about false prophets: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15a). Outwardly they look like sheep; there is nothing on the surface to make us think they are not good Christians. They look like sheep, talk like sheep, act like sheep, sing and pray like sheep. But something is wrong on the inside; ‘but inwardly they are ravening wolves’ (Matt. 7:15b). How do we discern if someone is a sheep or a wolf? The Bible says; “You shall know them by their fruits.”

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?; of course not. “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit” (Matt. 7:16). “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). Dear reader, beware of Balaams. They are not outside the church, but they are among you. They do not wear a name tag or bear a title that identifies them as ‘False Prophet’. They are like sheep outside but inside they are wolves. Unfortunately followers of false prophets like Balaam will not be just a small handful of people. Peter says ‘many shall follow their pernicious ways, and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you’ (2 Pet. 2:3).

Deceive

Prophets like Balaam are usually good speakers. If they use ‘feigned words’ to deceive their victims, then they must have fairly good speaking skills. In Revelation, John saw ‘three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet’ (Rev. 16:13). What is the connection between frogs and false prophets? They both use their tongue to catch their prey. Dear reader, if your pastor fits Balaam’s description, then you need to find a different church.

Gwinyai Bopoto

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