The king of Moab, Balak, grew in fear as he beheld the large Hebrew population. Moab, apparently, didn’t have a large enough army to engage Israel in battle. Balak resorted to hiring a soothsayer to curse them. Balak sent dignitaries from Moab and Midian to a man named Balaam. Balaam operated in familiar spirits, and offered his services of blessing and cursing.
Balaam is a mysterious figure. He practiced divination using omens (Num. 24:1). On the other hand, he also consulted the Lord. Before he would accept Balak’s offer of cursing Israel, Balaam asked the Lord’s permission (Num. 22:8). The Lord commanded Balaam not to go, for Israel was not to be cursed. Not to be denied, Balak sent more dignitaries, and asked Balaam to come again.
This is where Balaam’s story goes off the rails. Knowing God’s answer the first time, he asked again. The Lord relented and told him to only speak what He told him to. Balaam saddled his donkey and headed towards Moab. After a strange encounter with an angel, and his speaking donkey, Balaam continued toward Moab. Balaam blessed Israel, saying exactly what the Lord told him, while in Balak’s presence. Balaam didn’t curse Israel, he did something more diabolical instead. Balaam showed Balak how to tempt Israel with idolatry and fornication (Num. 25:1-9; 31:16). Israel couldn’t be cursed by others, but they had the capability of cursing themselves with their own actions.
Balaam’s life can be summed up with one Scripture: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Jam. 1:8). Balaam could consult omens and converse with Jehovah. He entertained familiar spirits, and offered to speak on behalf of God. In essence, Balaam could speak for God, but wouldn’t live for God. Balaam died a cursed man (Num. 31:8).
Dear reader, Balaam should serve as a warning to us. Too many people want to entertain evil spirits, while saying they love the Lord. But they are as unstable as Balaam. You can’t have one foot in the world, and one foot in the church. Attempting to live in these two worlds will cause you to lose your footing, end up cursed.