Balaam’s motive was greed, but what he actually did was what almost got him killed!

Today, what Balaam did serves as a warning to all of Yahuweh’s people. In this writing, we will summarise what Scripture reveals about what Balaam did. We will then see that what Balaam did is a warning for all Believers today. The Reader is urged, however, to read the Scriptures for himself, and cease hearing the teaching that leads us astray (Prov 19:27).

Thus as a preface, the Reader is encouraged to study the Scriptures, to see exactly what Balaam did. We should look carefully to find exactly what Balaam’s iniquity was — what Balaam did, even before the angel of Yahuweh became angry with Balaam, and stood in the Way, with sword drawn, intending to kill him.

Notice that Balaam’s iniquity had already occurred — even before Balaam arrived at his destination, even before Balaam prophesied, and before he could influence, or cast a stumblingblock before, the children of Israel. (See Numbers chapters 22-25; Num 31:16; 2 Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev 2:14-16).

Before we summarise what Balaam did, let’s first look at the warning given to us today.

The Doctrine of Balaam: The Warning

In the Book of Revelation, Yahushua gives this warning for His people today:

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… 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:14,16)

Here we see Yahushua gives us the following warnings:

For those who desire to press in, to know Him, and to please Him, this is a very serious matter. We would want to find out exactly what the Doctrine of Balaam is, so we can repent from it!

Therefore this writing is for those who have a repentant heart, and who desire to prepare themselves for going into the presence of the Bridegroom-King. Before we see what the Doctrine of Balaam is, let’s first look at the great danger it poses, both to individuals and to congregations.

The Doctrine of Balaam: The Great Danger

Again, the Reader is encouraged to read through these Scripture passages, to see exactly what Balaam did, and to notice why Yahuweh became angry with him. (See Numbers chapters 22-25; Num 31:16; 2 Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev 2:14-16).

We are told of the Error of Balaam in Jude 1:11, and the Way of Balaam in 2Pet 2:15. We see the Counsel of Balaam in Num 31:16. Then in Rev 2:14-16 we see the Doctrine of Balaam.

Let’s first notice the progression. When someone commits the Error of Balaam (what Balaam actually did), he is in danger of walking in the Way of Balaam (repeatedly committing the Error of Balaam), unless he repents.

Continuing to walk in the Way of Balaam, without repentance, results in speaking the Counsel of Balaam (the words of Balaam), also called the Doctrine of Balaam (the teaching, by word and by example, of the Way of Balaam). Walking in the Counsel or Doctrine of Balaam then results in a plague coming upon the entire congregation (Num 31:16). Beloved, this warning in Scripture is for us today, to see that this is happening to congregations today that embrace this Doctrine!

We may summarise that the Doctrine of Balaam originates as 1) the practice of the Error of Balaam, which 2) later becomes an example seen in the lives and teachings of the spiritual Leadership as the Counsel of Balaam and Doctrine of Balaam, which 3) results in the Error of Balaam being committed in the lives of their followers (the people), and which results in their idolatry and fornication, for which the people will be judged (2Pet 2:1-15; Jude 1:4, 11).

But what is the Doctrine of Balaam? And what is the Error of Balaam? What did Balaam do — that almost got him killed?

Let’s summarise what we see in the Scriptures.

The Doctrine of Balaam: What it Is

First, notice Yahuweh told Balaam, “You shall not go with them…” (Num 22:12). At first Balaam agreed to that word, but later, with the possibility of riches and fame, Balaam decided to ask Yahuweh again.

So later Yahuweh told Balaam, “If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them” (Num 22:20).

Then in the morning, Balaam went with the men (Num 22:21) — and next we see the angel of Yahuweh standing in the way, sword in hand, intending to kill Balaam (Num 22:22; 31-33).

Yahuweh told Balaam that the reason He intended to kill Balaam was because his Way was perverse (Num 22:32).

In order to see clearly what Balaam’s error was, and what his perverse way was, let’s recap what we have seen:

From this we see immediately that Balaam did not keep every word of Yahuweh, by which we must all live (Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4; Deut 8:3). Instead, Balaam rejected Yahuweh’s earlier word, in favour of His later word.

Notice that Balaam may have assumed Yahuweh’s later word had nullified Yahuweh’s earlier word.

Next, we see that Balaam had even disobeyed the later word, when he left the next morning without meeting the terms of Yahuweh’s condition (“if the men come to call you”) (Num 22:20,21). This imperfect obedience to the later command, however, is a consequence of disobedience to the earlier.

We might say that Balaam held to a twisted version of Yahuweh’s later command. We might also say that the later Word is always wrested, or twisted, if it does not agree with the earlier Word!

Thus we see that because Balaam rejected Yahuweh’s earlier word, Balaam failed to live by every Word of Yahuweh. This is the way Yahuweh calls perverse, and it was for this reason that Yahuweh sought to kill Balaam with a sword!

To summarise, we might say that what Balaam did was to simply reject the Earlier Word of Yahuweh, with the hope that the Later Word of Yahuweh would be more favourable to his purposes, and more agreeable to his motive.

His motive was greed, but his action was to reject, and deny the earlier Word, in thinking the earlier word had been somehow ‘nullified.’

How is the Doctrine of Balaam seen today? Let’s look.

The Doctrine of Balaam Today: Examples

The Doctrine of Balaam today is simply the teaching that Yahuweh’s earlier word has been nullified, in favour of Yahuweh’s later word.

The Error of Balaam is seen today in most Believers’ rejection of the Torah (Law) of the “Old Testament,” in exchange for the teachings of the Doctrines of Men! For it is the Doctrine of men — and not Scripture — that states the “Old Testament” (the Law or Torah) has been nullified by the “New Testament.”

Many precious Believers today are being taught that the “Old Testament” commandments of Yahuweh have been somehow nullified or have been done away with! This is a notion that is contrary to all of Scripture!

This old-wives-tale is contrary to all of Scripture, for it is contrary to the Words of the Prophets, contrary to the Words of the Apostle Paul, and contrary to the Words of Yahushua Himself.

For example, the Scriptures tell us that the Greek word ‘dogma,’ Strong’s numbers <1378> and <1379>, the “Decrees of Men,” were against us, and contrary to us, and so they have been blotted out, and taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, and abolished by the crucifixion of Yahushua’s body on the tree.

Yahushua’s crucifixion has thereby removed, and has taken out of the way, the very thing that was against us, and which brings division, and separates men from Him, by leading them astray — the Commandments of Men.

The Reader is urged to study these six verses that use these two Strong’s numbers. We must be as the Bereans, and see for ourselves whether these things are so! (see Luke 2:1; Acts 16:4; Acts 17:7; Eph 2:15; Col 2:14; Col 2:20.)

It is the man-made commandments of men that appear in the Talmudic writings, which say “touch not, taste not, handle not.” (Luke 2:1; Acts 16:4; 17:7; Eph 2:15; Col 2:14; Col 2:20-22). The Torah of Scripture makes no mention of these.

However, most seminary-trained Leaders today, in their ignorance of the Talmud, claim that it was the Biblical Law or Torah (the earlier word of Yahuweh) that has been nullified, abolished, taken out of the way, etc., thus contradicting the plain and clear words of the Apostle Paul!

Since when is the pure Word of Yahuweh equivalent to the dogma or Decrees of Men?

It is the Doctrine of Balaam that nullifies and removes the Truths of Yahuweh’s earlier word, and this in turn results in disobedience to Yahuweh’s later word. We will see some examples of this below.

Therefore multitudes of Believers today, embracing this deceptive Doctrine, are walking in disobedience to Yahuweh’s earlier Word. Rejection or denial of part of the words of Yahuweh — by Yahuweh’s own people — is the equivalent of wholesale rejection and denial of all the Words of Yahuweh, which is precisely what the Error of Balaam is!

This partial rejection of Yahuweh’s Word is the ‘perverse way’ of Balaam, for which Balaam was almost killed. (see Jer 11:10; Jer 13:10; Eze 3:10; John 5:46-47; Jas 2:10).

So we see that what Balaam did in his day, multitudes of Believers are doing today, as they are taught the Doctrine of Balaam by their spiritual Leaders!

What are the end results of the Doctrine of Balaam today? Let’s look at some examples.

The Doctrine of Balaam Today: Results

Today, most Believing Congregations have replaced the Biblical Truths with the Commandments of Men that ‘appear’ on the surface to be true, to those who do not study the Scriptures on their own. Instead, these Commandments of Men have actually turned most people away from practicing the Truth (Titus 1:14).

Only a few remnants of Truth remain in most congregations, because they have allowed men to re-define Biblical Words, Doctrines, and Practices, replacing them with man’s notions of Biblical words, man’s Doctrines, and man’s practices.

Indeed, we hear much of Christmas, Easter, and Lent; and nothing at all of the Passover bread, and Passover cup — without which participation there is ‘no life in you’ according to Yahushua Himself (Matt 26:18-29; Mark 14:16-24; Luke 22:11-20; John 6:53-54). Notice it is Yahushua Himself who defines and illustrates these words and terms used in Scripture; it is not our place to re-define Bible Words and terms.

Likewise today, we hear of many things considered to be holy and ‘Scriptural,’ such as Communion or the Lord’s Supper. These terms are Biblical, but as used today they sometimes describe man’s replacement for the Biblical Passover! As we saw in a previous article, any man-made replacement for Yahuweh’s Word is a form of idolatry.

Let’s look now at how the Doctrine of Balaam promotes this idolatry.

The Result is Idolatry

Note in Scripture that the Biblical Passover is the only sacrifice commanded to be eaten by all of Yahuweh’s people. The Passover is to be celebrated only by Yahuweh’s people, either home-born or Strangers, that are first circumcised, telling us that Passover is only for Yahuweh’s Covenant people. We are further told that the Passover is to be kept only on the Day of Passover, the fourteenth day of the Biblical month (Lev 23:5). Any man-made changes to Yahuweh’s Word are considered ‘strange fire.’ Any substitutes of His Word or ordained practice is considered idolatry, and any man-made substitute for any of Yahuweh’s Word is considered an idol.

We see furthermore, that the communion or Lord’s Supper as described in Scripture is to be taken at the conclusion of the Passover meal. Therefore any practice that differs from Scriptural practice is merely a clever, man-made counterfeit; it is a substitute for the True, and is thus an idol.

The Doctrine of Balaam denies earlier Word of Yahuweh, and so it must necessarily deny the Passover as being a vital part of New Covenant life. The Passover is part of the earlier word of Yahuweh, so the Doctrine of Balaam must create a substitute Passover to take the place of the True Passover. Today most of the evangelical world have embraced the man-made counterfeit, substitute Passover, rather than the Biblical Passover!

We therefore see the warning in Revelation, where Yahushua tells us it is the Doctrine of Balaam today that teaches His people to eat the man-made substitute Passover bread and cup of wine. Because these elements as used today are substitutes for the True Passover elements, Yahushua does not mince words, but tells us He sees this as “eating of things sacrificed to idols“ (Rev 2:14, 20).

Indeed, when we reject Yahuweh’s Words and Scriptural practices, in order to embrace the words and practices of men, Yahuweh tells us throughout Scripture He sees that as “whoring” after other gods. Thus we see the rejection of Yahuweh’s word is called fornication in our subject passage in Revelation 2:14!

Yahuweh’s remedy is that we would simply repent. This tells us to cease our disobedience, and begin obedience to all of His Word.

Let’s now look at the results we can expect if we repent.

The Remedy: Results of Repentance

For those who repent, and walk in a different path, a path of obedience, Yahuweh makes these promises:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)

Here we see Yahuweh promising to give two hidden rewards, in exchange for overcoming (‘prevailing’) in only one hidden aspect of His Covenant.

To those who do not repent, there is likewise a promise and a consequence.

The Remedy: Consequences of No Repentance

For those who do not actively repent, or who think they can put it off until a later day, Yahuweh has this Word:

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16)

The result of continuing in the Error of Balaam is the same result Balaam had: Yahuweh’s SWORD will be against those who do not repent.

And Yahushua also tells us in the above verse, that He will come quickly to fight against those who do not repent.

According to the warning to the Pergamos church, the end-time body of Believers (we today are among those Believers!) are apparently practicing, and teaching, this same Doctrine of Balaam; hence Yahuweh will again use a SWORD to stand in their (our) way, just as He did against Balaam.

When the Sword of Yahushua’s mouth fights against the Believers, the result is usually not made known immediately. We see in 2Thess 2:8-11, where the sword of His mouth will bring a “strong delusion, that they might believe a Lie.”

Someone who is believing a lie, and who is deluded by Yahuweh Himself, is not even aware of his delusion! He thinks “I’m OK — I’m saved!” “You know, ‘Once a Tree, Always a Tree!'” — “Surely Yahushua did not mean what He said in Luke 13:6-9!”

When we toy around with the word of Yahuweh, and re-invent definitions for Biblical words and terms, and apply our own definitions to them, we are headed for our ruin, as well as for the ruin of those who follow us. Thus it is imperative that we get back to the Scriptures!

Conclusion

The end-time, New Covenant Believers are given the warning of the Doctrine of Balaam. They are warned to be aware of what it is, and to repent.

The Doctrine of Balaam is perhaps the most prominent feature of today’s evangelical Doctrine. This teaching results in the Error of Balaam in the lives of the people.

The Doctrine of Balaam results in deceiving multitudes to think the earlier word of Yahuweh has been nullified.

The Doctrine of Balaam is causing many of Yahushua’s precious lambs to be led off into idolatry and fornication, because they are being taught to practice counterfeits of Yahuweh’s prescribed set-apart days, mere substitutes created by the Commandments of Men, which turn men away from the Truth, and which lead them astray.

As a side issue, many of our precious Jewish Brethren have yet to receive the message of Messiah, simply because many of the carriers of the Gospel message reject the foundational Truths of living in obedience to the Torah, against the warning of the Prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 8:20.

Unless the Pastors and spiritual Leaders of today — and their followers — repent, Yahushua will most likely not meet them at the door of the Wise Virgins, or receive them as part of the Bride Company. Instead, He will most likely allow them to remain among the foolish virgins.

The warning of the Doctrine of Balaam is a warning to the Bride!