The background of the matter of Peor

The first generation after the Exodus from Egypt witnessed many powerful works manifested by Moses such as the ten plagues coming upon Egypt; the Red Sea being parted; water coming out from a rock; and the pillar of cloud being with them during the day and the pillar of fire during the night. Nonetheless, they didn't have true faith. In the end, they couldn't enter the blessed land of Canaan and suffered in trials in the wilderness for forty years.



As described in Numbers 22, the sons of Israel journeyed and camped on the plains of Moab. It was the last stop before entering Canaan. Now Balak the king of Moab was in dreaded fear of the sons of Israel because they had achieved great victories in the wars against several nations. After agonizing, he sent the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian to Balaam with the fees for divination in their hand to tell him to come and curse the Israelites so that he would be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.

God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." Balaam refused to go with them to the king, following the will of God. Then Balak again sent leaders, more distinguished than the former to honor him and said he would do whatever Balaam asked of him. He again requested Balaam to come and curse the people for him. Balaam eventually was seduced by the lure set before him.

Now God couldn't help but let Balaam make a choice in his own freewill. This is because even if He stopped him for the time being, God already knew that Balaam would later waver at the enticement of greater wealth and fame since his heart was filled with greed and selfish motives. Knowing the will of God, Balaam followed them seeking personal advantage. On the way, God sent His angel to teach Balaam what was wrong with what he was doing, but God didn't stop him from going there and just spoke of what he should keep in mind.

As written in Numbers chapters 23 and 24, Balaam went to Balak with the leaders of Moab. And because he knew how to communicate with God, he told them to build seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams. Then, the words of blessing for the sons of Israel came from Balaam, not the words of cursing. The identical incidents happened three times, so King Balak got furious and told Balaam to go back. Then Balaam prophesied that Israel would become powerful and other nations around it would fall. He then returned to his home.

But here, we have to note that 24,000 people of Israel died of plague because they had played the harlot with the daughters of Moab according to the record of Numbers chapter 25. Revelation 2:14 also implies that Balaam taught Balak how to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel. That is to make them eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. Balaam used such an evil scheme to lead the Israelites to sin. He ended up being killed by the sword of the sons of Israel as recorded in Numbers chapter 31.

Several Scriptures of the Bible talk about this Balaam who tempted the Israelites to sin for his own benefit though he knew the will of God. 2 Peter 2:15-16 reads, "…having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet." Jude 1:11 says, "…for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah."


How was Balaam able to communicate with God?

Balaam was the son of Beor at Pethol near the River. He knew how to communicate with God. He just knew the way and communicated with God when he needed to do so. God neither chose him nor used him as God's man. That is why he was named as Balaam, 'the diviner' in Joshua 13:22.

Then, why was Balaam able to communicate with God? Some people in the world inherit the nature of being able to contact and speak to spiritual beings. Some of them are mediums or shamans. Demons can also work on those who have such nature. Balaam was such a person and he just realized the way to contacting God the greatest Deity. He just communicated with God according to the method.

Therefore, Balaam's communication with God is totally different from the communication of God's people, that is, the people of spirit and of whole spirit who have become sanctified. God's people communicate with God all the time. They can understand many profound mysteries and receive answers to whatever they pray for. But Balaam's contact with God was only by understanding and applying methodology. He couldn't receive all he asked for. He couldn't learn deep and profound mysteries of God. He sometimes received His answers but only by the grace of God.


Lessons given to us through incident of Balaam

The incident of Balaam teaches us to cast off untruthful things from our hearts quickly. As long as we have selfish motives, greed, and untruth, even if we clearly know the will of God, it will be easy for us to disobey.

Balaam also knew the will of God, so he sent the fee for divination given to him back to King Balak at first. But when the king sent more distinguished men and said that he would honor Balaam and give whatever Balaam asked, he was trapped by the enticement.

God told Balaam neither to go with them nor to curse the Israelites as the king asked (Numbers 22:12). Then, he no longer needed to ask God what His will was and even to talk to them. However, Balaam had selfish motives and greed, so his heart wavered under the words of Balak.

You may think you would not be tempted by anything by anyone since you think you have cast away all untruths. But if you still have sin and evil deep inside of you and love for the world, chances are that you may fall into temptation anytime. We have to keep in our minds that it is not because of the circumstances, but because of the untruth in our hearts.

If we have evil things or darkness in our hearts, they will one day be agitated. We must not fear or exercise caution at temptation, instead we must get rid of every form of evil and cast off the sinful natures at the very root of the problem itself.