Balaam’s Sin!

I met a friend of mine after many years. She looked so downcast that I could not help but ask her what the problem was. And she had a story to tell! She is about my age and her husband is much older. Recently her husband had confessed to her about a relationship he had had with a woman for some years during the early years of their marriage because the Lord had put the burden in his heart. Whatever may be the age and however many years ago the affair may have ended, such knowledge is always life-shattering! She was completely heartbroken.

When Balak, the King of Moab, invited Balaam to curse the children of Israel, Balaam could not curse them. But Balaam knew the nature of the God of Israel. Balaam knew that Israel will be blessed if they continued to obey God. He also knew that if they would sin, they would come under the curse of sin. So, Balaam told Balak to entice the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality so that Israel would be cursed! It is still the trick of the devil. The devil blinds the hearts and minds of people so that they will fall into sin and bring curses upon themselves and their families. Even some believers think that it is okay to have a little office romance or a casual affair on the side. They seem to think that it is okay to hug, kiss and fondle another woman as long as they do not engage in ‘the act'.

My friend, do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. Any type of sexual overture with anyone other than the spouse is sin. Period. Jesus said Matthew 5:28, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." It is not just confined to men alone. The standards of sexual purity are the same for both. When Paul writes to the Church in Colosse, he says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry"(Colossians 3:5).

My prayer today is that you will guard your hearts and minds with the Word so that you will not believe the lies of the devil and fall into his traps and thus lose our blessings!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 26th June 2018 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 27th June 2018

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