5 Lessons from the Life of Balaam: A Prophet Who Lost His Way

 Who can curse who God blesses?

​The story of Balaam is what comes to mind when we hear that question. Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet, and judging from the fact that he was specifically summoned by one of the powerful kings of his time, he was definitely a renowned diviner with accurate prophecies. His story is one of the most known in the Bible due to the bizarre way God warned him—a speaking animal, a donkey.

​To really get the full picture of Balaam, we have to look at how things worked back then. In those times, kings and rulers believed spiritual power was something you could easily pay for. If a king wanted to defeat a strong enemy, he would simply hire a famous seer or diviner to speak a curse over them. Balaam was a unique figure because even though he knew how to hear from the true God, he was also very familiar with taking money for his spiritual work. He was walking a very thin line between divine spiritual insight and worldly gain, which is why his story is such a powerful case study for us today on how easily a gifted person can slide into spiritual disaster.

​From this famed and quite funny story, we can pick quite a number of important lessons that are also applicable in our world today. So, we'll be discussing 5 of these lessons from the life of Balaam.

​1. The Purposes of God Cannot Be Overturned

​This is perhaps the most striking deduction from this incident. The Israelites were not just moving around; they were moving under the direct guidance of God. It was of God's doing that they were there. He was the One that promised and was moving them towards their promised land, subduing everything under their feet.

​The king of Moab, Balak, saw this and thought he could counter them by making a prophet prophesy against their advancement. The sole purpose for which he insisted on bringing Balaam was to curse the Israelites. Balak believed that if he could get a spiritual decree against Israel, their physical momentum would stop immediately.

​But as the story showed clearly, no one can overturn things that are born of God. Not that people won't try to, but the end result of futility is guaranteed. In place of the curse Balak wanted, a blessing was issued. God transformed every intended curse into an outspoken blessing over His people.

​As believers today, this truth should fuel and embolden us to pursue every purpose God has placed in our paths, knowing fully well that God is in and with us. When God sets a direction for your life, no person, system, or opposition can rewrite what He has already spoken.

​2. Greed Is a Real Menace

​Balak called, Balaam asked of God, and was told the answer was No! It was meant to be as simple as that. God’s boundary was clearly defined right from the beginning.

​But Balak was hell-bent on preventing the progression of the children of Israel, as his nation felt at risk. So, he sent again, offering more riches and honor to lure Balaam. Balaam's heart was so lured by these riches that he went back to ask for an answer he already had.

​God then gave him permission to go with the elders of Moab, but due to the greed sitting in his heart, God knew Balaam was going to dance to the tune of Balak once he got there and try to curse the children of Israel.

​A heart stained with greed will always find a way to disobey God. God isn't much moved by what we say, but rather by the motives of our hearts, which are so clear to His all-seeing eyes. God knew Balaam was so interested in going and was going to keep asking until he had his way. So according to theology, God let him have his way (permissive will), which is very different from adherence to God's perfect will (obedience).

​In our lives today, this is very common. We say we are willing to be obedient, but we do not mean it in our hearts. We inquire from God concerning certain things, and He gives the answer. But because the answer isn't what we hoped for, we keep begging and trying to get God's permission for what He already said no to. As in the case of Balaam, the result is the same, and it's trouble! Greed corrupts our spiritual gifts and pushes us towards knowledge without true obedience.

​3. Compromise Leads to Pride and Spiritual Blindness

​Balaam was a diviner, and he truly did see. He had a reputation for accurate prophecies, and even though he wasn't an Israelite, God still spoke to him. These reasons prompted Balak to seek him out in the first place. When Balaam asked God and the answer was no, he knew that was it. But due to his greed, he was willing to compromise, and he did.

​This compromise almost cost Balaam his life. The act of compromise is a deviation from God's perfect will. And every deviation from this will is pride. Pride is dangerous because it blinds those who allow it to remain in their hearts, as Balaam was blinded.

​The renowned seer couldn't see quickly enough to save his own life, but his donkey, an animal, saw before him. The angel of the Lord stood on the path with a drawn sword, but Balaam was oblivious to it. He struck the donkey because he didn't think there would be something he wasn't seeing, forgetting fully that a compromise that allowed pride into his heart had blinded his vision.

​When we compromise, this same sequence is orchestrated. It leads us to realize that a safe people are those who operate under God's perfect will. Delayed obedience is compromise, and compromise is disobedience.

​4. God Can Use a Person Without Endorsing Them

​As the Bible noted, Balaam wasn't an Israelite, yet he was gifted, and God even spoke through him. Does this mean God endorsed all his superstitious beliefs and practices common to diviners of his time? The answer is a definite No!

​We are vessels, and God decides who to use, when to use, and how to use them. But that someone was used by God, or rather has a gift like Balaam, does not mean they are faithful or that God approves of their lifestyle.

​This lesson is very pivotal in our current day, as there are many prophets, teachers, and leaders out there whose lifestyles do not show or encourage faithfulness in God, yet they still gain a massive following of believers. What makes these believers stick to them is the manifestation of the gifts, as they've forgotten or haven't learned that the sign of faithfulness to God is the fruits of the Spirit, not the gifts.

​A man can be useful to God while at the same time not being faithful to Him. Also, this explains that God using us does not mean we are automatically faithful or standing in His righteousness.

​5. God Is Merciful

​You know, God could have left the donkey out of it and allowed Balaam to ride straight into his death, but He didn't. Why? Because God is merciful and warns before He judges.

​Balaam wasn't a seed of Abraham or part of the Israelite traveling party, so there was nothing preventing God from removing him right there. But as noted in the New Testament, God cannot be unfaithful, even if we are. He would not judge Balaam without warning him first.

​And because God isn't after the death and destruction of sinners, He performed a miracle—a speaking donkey—to get Balaam's attention and ensure he did according to what He said.

​If God went to this length for someone who wasn't under any covenant with Him, how much more for us who have received an eternal covenant? The mercies of God endure forever, and it's soothing to know that God warns before He judges. The only problem is our insensitivity or persistence despite being warned concerning something we are undertaking.

​Conclusion

​A perfect heart before God is vital, as anything short of it will eventually lead to destruction. Despite all the warnings of God to Balaam, he still maintained his compromise and partial obedience. He blessed the Israelites as God said, but he secretly ill-advised the king of Moab on how to get the Israelites to sin against God so that God's protection over them would drop. This subtle evil eventually ended in Balaam's death in Numbers 31:8.

​The story of Balaam is more than just a story for children's church; it's a testament that greed and compromise always lead to evil. It's also a warning to us that we are to ensure we aren't just being used by God, but are faithful to Him, as that's what counts in the end. Spiritual knowledge and gifts are never replacements for genuine devotion.