In Why Balaam Couldn’t Curse Israel I, I introduced a key reason why the sorcery of Balaam could not work against the children of Israel. Here’s another reason: As long as the Israelites maintained their distinction from other nations, they had continued success in their battles against those nations.
“From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart, and do not consider themselves one of the nations.”
~Numbers 23:9
Balaam pointed this out to Balak, the king of Moab who had hired him. In fact, later on when Balaam’s magic repeatedly failed to work, he gave Balak another ploy. Because he wanted to collect the money that Balak had offered him, he gave him an excellent strategy. He called Balak aside and said, “Listen, you cannot defeat this people with magic and sorcery. I can’t find a single divination, or enchantment against them, so stop trying. I will tell you how to defeat them: If you can find a way to connect with them, and begin to have fellowship with them, then you will defeat them.” And Balaam’s advice hit the bull’ eye.
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.”
~Revelation 2:14
Balaam understood the key to the Israelites’ distinction. Essentially, he said, “If you can bridge their distinction, their power is in their distinction. The secret of their continued success against other nations is in their distinction. If you can find a way to connect with them, then sell your culture, ideologies, religion to them. If you can do that, you’ll not need sorcery.”
Balak followed Balaam’s advice.
“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.”
~Numbers 31:16
The moment he lured the Israelites, and got them to connect with his nation, and mingle together with his own people, he was able to corrupt their religion. The children of Israel started to associate with his people, and they successfully introduced their god and religious practices to them. In the end, Balaam actually didn’t need to curse them, God himself turned against them.
Memory Verse:
Numbers 23:9
“From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart, and do not consider themselves one of the nations.”Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please strengthen me daily to retain my distinction in a corrupt and perverse world. Give me the discernment to foil every plan of the devil to get me to compromise, in Jesus’ mighty name.
Amen.