What can we learn from Balak's actions about seeking guidance from ungodly sources? Setting the Scene “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor… to call him” (Numbers 22:5). Moab’s king sees Israel encamped on his borders and panics. Instead of turning to the God who justly rules every nation (Psalm 22:28), he hires a famed pagan diviner. From that single decision flows a string of disastrous choices. What Balak Teaches Us About Ungodly Guidance • He looked horizontally, not vertically. – Balak assessed Israel’s size and strength but ignored the One who delivered them (Exodus 15:3). • He trusted reputation over revelation. – Balaam’s notoriety outweighed God’s clear decree against sorcery (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). • He assumed power could be bought. – “I will reward you handsomely” (22:17). The king tried to purchase spiritual influence, forgetting “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalm 24:1). • He sought a curse instead of a blessing. – Balak’s request ran against God’s promise to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). God’s Consistent Warning • Psalm 1:1—“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” • Isaiah 8:19–20—If people “consult the dead on behalf of the living,” God says, “They have no light of dawn.” • 2 Chronicles 18—King Ahab’s lying prophets lure him to his death, illustrating where ungodly counsel ends. Scripture repeatedly exposes the futility—and danger—of advice divorced from God’s truth. Consequences that Follow 1. Spiritual confusion: Balak never receives the clarity he seeks; instead, God twists his curse into blessing (Numbers 23:11–12). 2. Moral compromise: His partnership with Balaam eventually leads Israel into immorality and plague (Numbers 25:1–9; 31:16). 3. National decline: Moab fades from the stage, illustrating Proverbs 14:12—“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Lessons for Believers Today • Evaluate every voice by God’s Word; expertise and popularity never outrank Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Refuse shortcuts that bypass obedience; Balak wanted instant relief rather than humble repentance. • Remember influence is spiritual; aligning with darkness invites bondage (2 Corinthians 6:14). • Stand confident: if God has blessed, no curse can prevail (Romans 8:31). Walking in the Better Way • Seek the Lord first (Matthew 6:33). • Surround yourself with godly counselors who fear Him (Proverbs 13:20). • Stay rooted in the whole counsel of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Balak’s story reminds us that where we turn for guidance shapes our destiny. Choose voices loyal to God’s unchanging Word, and you will walk in light, not stumble in the dark. |
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