0437. Balaam Said, "I Have Sinned"

Balaam Said, "I Have Sinned"

"And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me" (Num_22:34).

The story of Balaam is familiar to us all. The children of Israel were encamping in the valley and Balak sent messengers to Balaam, saying, "Come, curse me Israel." Balaam prayed unto God and God positively forbade his going.

Later on, Balak sent other messengers more honorable than the former, and with larger gifts. Balaam, lodged the messengers, and, when he asked God about it, God permitted him to go.

As Balaam journeyed, God’s anger was kindled against him because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. The ass upon which Balaam rode, saw the angel and refusing to go, crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. The ass also fell down under Balaam. Balaam was angered at the ass, and the Lord opened the animal’s mouth and he spake to Balaam. Finally God opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way.

Balaam, at once grasped the meaning of it all, and said unto the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will get me back again." But the angel told him to go on with the men.

We call this the sorrow of one who says, "I have sinned," and then goes right on sinning. It is a sorrow unto death.

Illustration: We visited a young man lying at death’s door. We preached Christ unto him. He positively stated his willingness to accept Christ as his Saviour. Again we visited him and again he assured us that he had turned from his evil ways, and that, in faith, he had received Christ Jesus the Lord. Within a few weeks he was well again, and immediately he went on in his old life. He never so much as darkened the door of the church.

One of our deacons told us one day: "There will be a sudden death in this town before long." "For," said he, "the young man who was reproved, has hardened his heart and stiffened his neck, and he will be suddenly destroyed and that without remedy." His prediction came true. A few weeks later our telephone rang and the young man’s wife, with a broken heart, told us that he had suddenly been cut down.

Balaam said, "I have sinned," and then went on his way sinning still. He, too, was cut down. Before many months had passed Balak and his army were in battle against the children of Israel. After the battle, Balaam’s body was found among the slain of Moab.

1. Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and was lured to do wrong by his lust for gold.

2. Balaam taught Balak how to trap Israel into sin, by marrying and mixing the Moabites and the Israelites.

3. Balaam joined Balak’s armies in fighting Israel and was slain in battle.

All of this happened to the man who said, "I have sinned" and then kept on sinning.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR