Devotionals
DAY THIRTY
THE SWORD: Piercing the Heart
‘But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate.’ (Revelation 2:14, 15)
it appears that the type of surgery needed in Pergamos is heart surgery. The problem with sin is always a problem with the heart. Jeremiah says’ the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?’(Jeremiah 17:9). But the Holy Spirit is specific when it mentions the two particular areas that have caused the churches problem. Unlike the church at Ephesus where God says’ I have somewhat against thee’, he says instead, ’ I have a few things against thee’.
The first thing God points to is the doctrine of Balaam. Somehow this practice has entered the church and become a controlling element. What is this doctrine of Balaam? Our verse describes it partially. Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament who was one who could be purchased (or a prophet for hire). Whether he was a true prophet or not remains to be seen but God did use his situation to keep Israel from being destroyed, The account of this history can be found in the book of Numbers chapters 22 through 25. It appears that the nation of Israel became a threat to the surrounding idolatrous nations and to keep them from growing too large the idea was to destroy them. Balak, the king of Moab, hired Balaam, a self-proclaimed prophet of Israel, to place a curse on the Israelites.
Several attempts were made to destroy the nation of Israel by placing a curse upon them. However, in every case God intervened on behalf of his people and Balaam’s selfish efforts were stopped. Nothing the enemies of God attempted could destroy God’s people. You would think that if Balaam was a true prophet, that he would stop with that, having such direct words from God. Instead, he devised another plan. His plan was to infiltrate the Israelites with Moabite women and his plan worked. Israel became morally corrupt and experienced the judgment of God. Balaam taught Balac how to attack the Israelites when their guard was down. They became attracted to the Moabite woman and disobeyed the word of God. We might say, that the Israelite men became distracted. They were destroyed from within. Their faithfulness to God protected them, but the problem with their sinful hearts destroyed them. They were destroyed by their choice to satisfy their fleshly desires instead of obeying God. How does the doctrine of Balaam display itself in the modern church? Read on!
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