When the representatives of Balak came to Balaam, it was a combination of leaders from two groups of people – the Moabites and the Midianites (Numbers 22:7). Balaam had one more conversation with Balak and with the Midianite leaders. During his conversation with these leaders, he provided some instruction about how to defeat Israel.
This compromise by the prophet was the final straw – it would soon prove fatal for Balaam and those involved. Balaam had advised these enemies of Israel about Israel’s weak points. He knew that God strongly wanted to bless the Israelites and that He would do so as long as they were holy and obeyed Him. Balaam taught the Midianites how to defile the children of Israel so that God Himself would want to destroy them.
These two groups of people had a close relation with Abraham at one time. The Moabites were descendants of Lot through one of his daughters. The Midianites were direct descendants of Abraham through Keturah.
The Bible indicates that the children of Israel “began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” (Numbers 25:1). The word “whoredom” as used here, refers to spiritual adultery – meaning that they became unfaithful to the living God and went after idols: “And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.”
In verse 6 of this chapter, it says there was also a “Midianitish woman” brought into the camp by an Israeli man who had intended to have sexual relations with her. This brazen man brought her into his tent in the midst of the congregation and in Moses’ sight. Immediately, God’s wrath is poured out on Israel in the form of a plague and 24,000 people die very quickly.
After both are killed by the son of Aaron – Phineas – God commands Moses to “vex” the Midianites. This word means to distress or besiege them. In Numbers 31:8, we have this record of what happened: “And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.”
At the beginning of the record of Balaam, he seemed to be a faithful prophet. He conversed with God. He died, however, as a result of the evil he brought on Israel. Finally, after his death he was known ever after as that unfaithful prophet that “loved the wages of unrighteousness” (II Peter 2:15).
Have you ever thought about what you are known for by God? What does God think of you now? Is He pleased? Paul also spoke of some people that turned away from serving God because they “loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10). Because Christ’s coming is so close, it is time to make sure that you are seeking “those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1,2).
Avoiding Balaam’s Fatal Mistakes