Bible Study: Balaam in Numbers 22-24--A Personal Reading Nu 22:1-6 1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 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. 5 He 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: 6 Come 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. (KJV) Moab and Midian desired to go to war with Israel, but evidently thought it good insurance to send for Balaam to come and curse them first. They superstitiously believed that if Israel were cursed by Balaam they would be more readily defeated in battle. Their decision to renew war against Israel would have been pre- dicated upon their procuring Balaam's curse on them, for Balak said, "...curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me." Pethor, or Pitru, on the west bank of the Euphrates below Char- chemish, was a seat of the Babylonian Magi, and the headquarters of Balaam's false religion. A joint embassy is dispatched to solicit Balaam's religious services, an indication of the prestige he enjoyed as a religious figure some fifteen centuries before the Christian era. Nu 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. (KJV) Divination--the art of obtaining secret knowledge, especially of the future, is a pagan counterpart of prophecy. "Careful comparison will reveal that inspirational divination is by demonic power," (Unger, "The New Unger's Bible Dictionary," p.313). Unger goes on to say that Balaam was a pagan diviner who rose to the status of a bona-fide prophet, only to revert to paganism again. It seems he could have gone either way, but kept making wrong choices. I am not sure he was that "bona-fide," given his willful persistence in what he viewed as his own self-interest. The evil doctrine of Balaam, that per- sisted down to New Testament times, was derived from the evil spirits to whom Balaam resorted. Nu 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. (KJV) Balaam elects to entertain the embassy rather than asking them to return on the morrow for his answer. A city like Pethor, one would have thought, would have had ample facilities for travelers. Balaam seems to be treating them with special deference. Nu 22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? (KJV) Why would God, who knows all things, ask Balaam whom it was that he was entertaining? Remember, He also asked Adam where he was, and asked Cain where his brother was. Such direct questioning brings a man up short and makes him face himself. Why, indeed, was Balaam deferring to them? Nu 22:10-12 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. (KJV) Note what Balaam does not mention, that he was offered rewards of divination, which is indeed what he desired, (II Pet 2:15). He loved the "wages of unrighteousness," the "rewards of divination." The Lord forbids him to accept the proposition, which should have ended the matter had Balaam been seeking only God's will. He should have given the embassy a definite no. God may have forbad Balaam's curse for the reason that Moab and Midian were afraid to war against Israel without it. God may not have wanted Israel to fight them until after they had secured the Promised Land. Nu 22:13 And 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. (KJV) Note the reluctance with which Balaam complies with God's will, as though he would gladly have gone were he permitted to do so. Nu 22:14-17 14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16 And 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: 17 For 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. (KJV) Why do the delegates neglect to say that God forbad Balaam to come? Balak thinks he just needs added incentive, and then he will come and curse Israel for him. He in effect issues Balaam a blank check. Nu 22:18 And 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. (KJV) Ah, all that silver and gold, and Balaam is stuck with the will of God, forbidding him to hire out for it. He may not go "beyond the word of the Lord." But he dearly wants to. Nu 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. (KJV) Balaam entertains this embassy, also, rather than asking them to return again on the morrow for his answer. This time God doesn't ask him who they are, as He did on the previous occasion. Why not? May it not be that God feels one warning from Him should be sufficient? Nu 22:20 And 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. (KJV) The key word is "if." God will let Balaam go, if the delegation renews its petition, because of Balaam's wilful disregard of His previous warning. If Balaam will not learn from God, perhaps he must learn the hard way. Nu 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. (KJV) One would have thought a man as important as Balaam would have had a servant to saddle his ass for him, but he saddles his own ass. Why? It is likely that he knows he is willfully ignoring God's con- dition and in effect trying to escape from further encounter with God until after he earns his wages of unrighteousness. He doesn't seem to appreciate the majesty of Him with whom he has to do. He consorts with demonic spirits in his divinations and enchantments, and perhaps regards God as only one of many such beings. Nu 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. (KJV) God sends His angel to oppose Balaam--this vaunted religious leader who purports to be a servant of God, but who is setting out to serve mammon, (Mat 6:24). Should the curse be delivered, the pagan alliance will likely resume its war against Israel (cf. Jos 24:9). Nu 22:23-27 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. (KJV) Presumably Balaam is guiding the ass, but he does not see the angel, though the ass does. God seems to be teaching Balaam that even a dumb ass has sense enough not to oppose God. Nu 22:28-30 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. (KJV) God speaks to Balaam through his ass because he still doesn't get it. Balaam is intent upon getting on with his mission to earn his big money. That God is behind the incident he has no idea as yet. Nu 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. (KJV) Balaam falls on his face, apparantly terrified that the angel is going to strike him dead. Is the object lesson that the dumb ass could see God's hand in the matter and the greatly esteemed spiritual leader could not? Peter says that, "...he was rebuked for his in- iquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet" (II Pet 2:16, NKJ). Nu 22:32-33 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. (KJV) The ass had saved Balaam's life three times over. Perhaps Balaam is beginning to think that he should have met God's condition before setting out for Moab. It was probably necessary for God to get his attention in no uncertain terms to prevent him from cursing Israel and collecting his money. The way of Balaam, which is practiced, incidentally, by false teachers in God's churches today, is perverse before God, a perverted Gospel (cf: II Pet 2, Jude, Rev 2, with Gal 1:7.) Nu 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. (KJV) Balaam figures out he shouldn't have beaten his ass. He even figures out that his mission may have displeased God, and offers to return. When he admits he had sinned, he is not truly repentant. He is merely sorry his plans weren't working out. Nu 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (KJV) Now God commands that Balaam go with the men rather than making him return. Why? Balaam will learn no other way, so he must learn the hard way, but God forbids him to curse Israel contrary to God's blessing upon them. He has to learn that one cannot serve God and mammon, but only the one or the other, (Luke 16:13). Nu 22:36-38 36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. (KJV) When Balak remonstrates with him, Balaam protests that he has come, after all, presumably thus fulfilling his contract and qualifying for his reward. He has done the best he can, given the Lord's interference with his plans. Nu 22:39-41 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. (KJV) They go to the "city of streets" where Balak lays on a welcoming party for Balaam and his entourage. The following day they go to a religious shrine to Baal on an eminence from which they may view the encampment of Israel. Nu 23:1-3 1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. (KJV) This seems rather a burlesque of the Levitical sacrifices, that they think may placate God. Some may have been sacrificed to Chemosh, the god of Moab, and some to God. Nu 23:4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. (KJV) God meets with Balaam, Heb karah--to meet in a hostile sense. It is as though God is saying, "Well, I see you're still at it." Balaam thinks the sacrifices will appease God. He wants to stay in God's favor and still earn his rewards from Balak. This is the perennial quandary of the false minister: how can you have it both ways? Nu 23:5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. (KJV) God commands Balaam to speak the word He gives him to speak-- he is to pronounce blessings upon Israel, and not curses. Nu 23:7-10 7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! (KJV) Balaam technically obeys God. He gives them God's words along with his own disclaimer as to why he may not curse Israel. It is as though he would curse them if it were permitted him to do so. Nu 23:11-12 11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? (KJV) When Balak remonstrates with him for blessing Israel, Balaam protests that the words are not his, but God's. "Blame God, not me," he seems to be saying, "just don't forget my paycheck." Balaam seems very apologetic about the word that God gives him to speak. His will is at loggerheads with that of God. Nu 23:13-15 13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. (KJV) Balak thinks if Balaam doesn't see all of Israel he may be able to curse them better. The sacrifice burlesque is re-enacted, exaggerated beyond anything God had commanded Israel. Nu 23:16-17 16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? (KJV) Again God accosts Balaam and commands him what he is to say. Nu 23:18-24 18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. (KJV) Balaam again delivers God's words and again pronounces his own disclaimer, saying, "He hath blessed; And I cannot reverse it." God had led Israel out of Egypt and was leading them still. But again, Balaam is doing his best to qualify for his reward within the restrictions God places upon him. His is the impossible task of the false minister: how to serve for money and yet remain in God's favor. That there is no enchantment or divination against Israel seems to show that demonic powers have no power to reverse a blessing given by God. Whom is Balaam serving, after all? Nu 23:25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. (KJV) Balak says in effect, "If you won't curse them, at least shut up!" Nu 23:26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? (KJV) Not "that I will do," but "that I must do." He would do something else if he could. Balaam protests in effect that he is doing all he can to earn his retainer. Nu 23:27-30 27 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. (KJV) They superstitiously rearrange their procedures, thinking that men's ceremonies might impress God if done properly. Maybe from the high place at Peor... Once again they go through their sacrificial charade. Nu 24:1 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. (KJV) To seek for enchantments, Bullinger says, is to meet with familiar spirits (Du 18:10,14). Divination is to attempt to foretell the future apart from revelation by God, also resorting to demons. Balaam had sought to divine Israel's demise for monetary reward, as well as seeking to God, but one can't go both ways. The way of Balaam was inspired by demonic powers, not by Power from on high. Nu 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. (KJV) God had spoken through a dumb ass, and He could speak through Balaam as well if He desired. God sends His Spirit upon Balaam to make him speak the word of God contrary to his will. How can Balaam be considered a true prophet of God when he is consorting with demonic powers and opposing God's will at every turn? He had to be compelled to speak the prophecies and blessings of God, and he remained an implacable enemy of Israel to the end, Num 31:8. Besides, God had said to him, "...thy way is perverse before me..." (Num 22:32). Nu 24:3-4 3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: (KJV) This is a religious formula Balaam uses, repeated with variation in v. 15-17. He seems to have been subject to trances and visions through demonic powers, but also seeking to be acceptable with God. Nu 24:5-9 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. 7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. (KJV) Under inspirational constraint from God, Balaam utters this beautiful prophecy concerning Israel. Nu 24:10-11 10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. (KJV) Balak interrupts Balaam's recital of the prophecy. He is angry that Balaam has not cursed Israel, though he seems now to realize that it is because the Lord will not permit it. He threatens to cut Balaam's pay rather drastically. Nu 24:12-24 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. 15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. 21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! 24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. (KJV) Balaam has silver and gold on his mind again, and the worldly honor that Balak holds forth, and again he disclaims responsibility for the outcome--it is God's fault Israel is not cursed, not his. He resumes the parable God gave him to speak, the beautiful prophecy concerning Israel. Nu 24:25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. (KJV) Since Balak does not procure the curse against Israel, war be- tween Israel and this pagan alliance is averted at this time. Though not mentioned here, we learn elsewhere, in fact Jesus tells us in Rev 2:14, that there was further consultation between Balaam and Balak, "...Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality" (NKJ). There were therefore further meetings between Balaam and Balak, and Balaam probably, in the end, earned some of his coveted reward. By causing them to sin, they thought Israel would become disqualified to receive the blessings God had pronounced upon them, even since the time of Abraham. Nu 25:1-3 1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. (KJV) This is the result of the consultation between Balaam and Balak. Israel defiles itself with the false mystery religion of Baalpeor. Though a major crisis is brought upon Israel, God does not withdraw the blessings He has pronounced upon them, nor will He ever. Comment In the letters to the churches in Asia, Jesus associates the doc- trine of Balaam with that of the Nicolaitanes, with that of the woman Jezebel, and by implication with that of the false church, the syn- agogue of Satan (Rev 2-3). Jude says that ungodly false ministers of Christ have run greedily after the error, the erroneous doctrine, of of Balaam, for reward--for money (Jude 4,11,19). Peter says that the false teachers who make merchandise of God's people have gone astray after the way of Balaam, who sought the wages of unrighteousness, or, as the account in Numbers has it, the rewards of divination (II Pet 2:1,3,15; Num 22:7). Jesus speaks of Balaam's doctrine, Peter of Balaam's way, and Jude of Balaam's error. They all refer essentially to the same thing, the erronenous beliefs and consequent actions of the false teachers who trouble God's people. A doctrine is a teaching, and it reflects the thought process in the mind. A Spirit-led individual seeks to think as God does, and for that reason has great respect for God's word. He searches the Scriptures to learn truth--God's word is truth. A false teacher, on the other hand, includes foreign ideas or doc- trines without labeling them as such, and uses the Scriptures as window dressing rather than as substantiation for his doctrine. A notable recent example of this is the manner in which the Worldwide Church of God ministry have revised several of their doctrines. For a blatant example of this kind of cavalier treatment of the Holy Scriptures, carefully analyze the "God Is..." booklet written by the late Joseph Tkach, Sr. False teachers condemn themselves by their own false doctrines. It seems a bit strange at first that Jesus should bring up the doctrine of the somewhat obscure Old Testament false prophet Balaam as the example for and prototype of that of the false ministers who deceive His church. It is of primary importance therefore that we understand what the doctrine of Balaam is, and how we may avoid being deceived by it. The ancient doctrine of Balaam was being taught to churches in Asia by the Nicolaitanes and the prophetess Jezebel, and by the synagogue of Satan, the false church posing as the church of God, but whose real god is the god of this world. The same doctrine is being taught today in the Churches of God, since the messages to the seven churches are prophetic and apply to us as well as to the seven churches in Asia. We need not cast about too long in searching out the doctrine of Balaam, for Jesus tells us what it is in Rev 2:14,20. The doctrine of Balaam consists of three things Balaam taught Balac to do: 1) to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, 2) to eat things sacrificed to idols, and 3) to commit fornication (Rev 2:14). Balac corresponds to the false ministry trained in the doctrine of Balaam, as does the woman Jezebel in verse 20. Jezebel follows the same threefold program, revealed as the doctrine of Balaam, in verse 14. She is permitted in the church at Thyatira 1) to teach [sin], 2) to seduce the church to commit fornication, and 3) to eat things sacrificed to idols. Jesus holds Balac and Jezebel up as types of a false ministry and a false church. False teachers in the Churches of God then, not necessarily the deceived church itself, hold to this threefold doctrine of Balaam, which 1) teaches spiritual Israel, the church, to sin, 2) eats that which is sacrificed to idols, and 3) commits spiritual for- nication. One must distinguish carefully between the deceived churches of God and the false practitioners of the doctrine of Balaam who deceive them, between the congregations of God's churches and the false ministry who teach them to sin. It is the false ministry who teach, who eat, who commit fornication, accor- ding to the doctrine of Balaam, not the churches per se. The Balacian Balaamites, the Nicolaitanes, the Jezebelites, the false priesthoods who seduce God's people--these are the synagogue of Satan as opposed to the true church of God, the "laity," whom they de- ceive, the scattered flock of Christ's pasture. They follow the way of Balaam, which is perverse before God (Num 22:32, Gal 1:6-7). In order for the false ministry of the synagogue of Satan to eat things sacrificed to idols, they must first erect those idols and teach deceived Christians to sacrifice to them. This is the heart and core of the doctrine of Balaam--to erect idols for the churches of God to serve. Modern practitioners of the doctrine of Balaam therefore erect corporate religious idols which they falsely denominate "Churches of God," to which the "laity," the sheep of Christ's pasture, are di- rected to sacrifice their substance in the form of monetary tithes, offerings, donations, and contributions. Thus they err in the doctrine of Balaam for reward. They cause the church of God to commit the sin of idolatry, the central feature of the religious system they espouse. Without it they could not maintain themselves by consuming that which is sacrificed unto their idols. In this manner the true church is led into sin and idolatry. Just recently we have been privileged to witness a veritable laboratory exper- iment in the erection of an elaborate religious idol, a so-called "Church of God," in the most recent breakaway from the Worldwide Church of God--what a travesty of God's true church! See the file on tithing in this series for proof that there is no scriptural authorization for corporate religious organizations billing them- selves "Churches of God" to levy tithes on the incomes of their members. The ancient priesthood of Korah may be a prototype for many subsequent false religious organizations of men (cf. the file on Korah). Individual Christians, who have been decieved by false Church of God organizations to commit idolatry in this manner, have been in- advertantly caused to sin, but all they need to do is to act on God's warning in Rev 18:4 and come out of such synagogues of Satan as practice the babylonish doctrine of Balaam in order to make merchandise of them, and whose judgment of a long time lingereth not--"...Come out of her, my people..." The synagogue of Satan is just another name for the Babylonian Mystery system of religion through which Satan has elected to work since the time of ancient Babel. It is and always has been a cleverly corrupt and deceptive imitation of God's true religion. It is infinitely adaptable to all ages and societies of men and always seeks to deceive true worshippers of God into idolatry and sin. Often it has been out- wardly successful, but God is not mocked and remains unwilling that any should perish, and His will shall prevail in the end.