Balaam the son of Bosor

2023-08-02

Balaam the son of Beor (or in the New Testament, son of Bosor) was a prophet in the Old Testament. One commentator once said that Balaam was not a false prophet but a wicked prophet. Previously, when I wrote about him, I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was really saved, but disobedient.

The scary part about Balaam is that he knew who the real God was, could communicate with Him, and make real prophecies, but in the end would be listed in two chapters that list qualities of false prophets.

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:15-16)

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11)

Balaam is mentioned as someone who intentionally led people into sin and taught false doctrine: “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” (Revelation 2:14). The prophet pled with the Lord to let him go to Balak, even after being told not to. It should have been sufficient when the Lord said, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). However, he sought the Lord again, and just as sometimes the Lord gives us over to what we want to because of stubbornness, let him go. “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” (Numbers 22:20).

Learn from the example of Balaam. He talked the right talk. He prayed, he prophesied, and did all the right “religious stuff.” In the end, he is condemned with all the false prophets of whom it is said, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:3). And again, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (2 Peter 2:21).