Pursue Holiness
Wait Patiently for Jesus’ Return
The Foolishness of Despising Proper Authority
2 Peter 2:10b-16

Children’s sermon

➢ How many of you love it when your mom or dad take you to get ice cream, or they take you to another fun place?

➢ How many of you love it when they tell you that you can only have one cookie when there are a whole lot of cookies on the plate?

➢ Here is another question – if you eat two cookies when your mom has told you that you can only eat one, when she asks you how many cookies you ate, do you tell her that you ate one or two?

➢ Why do you think it is important to tell the truth? Why do you think it is so much more important to tell the truth than it is to stay out of trouble?

➢ Does it hurt your mom or your dad when you don’t tell the truth? Who does it hurt?

➢ Have your parents ever told you that you could not do something, but then someone else told you it was okay to do it because your parents wouldn’t mind? If you tell your parents, “But my brother told me it would be okay if I do it,” do your parents say, “Oh, well it’s okay then,” or do they say something like, “Your brother is not the boss of you – I am!”? Today, the Bible lesson is all about listening to God when he tells us things that are for our own good, and if someone else says, “Oh, it will be okay – God won’t mind,” who should you listen to? That’s right – listen to God! How does God speak to us? In his Word.

1 John 4:4 The one who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The fascinating story of Balaam is played out in Numbers 21-25. The story is set in the last days of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness as punishment for their failure to believe that God would deliver the Promised Land into their hands – as he had promised. When their time was nearly up, they faced challenges from several nations that were in their way. Balak, king of Moab, saw what was happening and sought out a prophet to curse the Israelites so that the Moabites could defeat them in battle, so Balak sent messengers to offer Balaam money to come and curse the Israelites. To give perspective, Moab was in modern Jordan, to the east and south of Israel, and Balaam came from modern-day southeast Turkey.

This seemed like a good deal to Balaam, who had a weakness for money. The problem was, God wouldn’t let him go. So, Balaam sent the messengers back. Balak sent more messengers with a better offer, and Balaam once again asked the Lord, “Please, please – can I please go?” The Lord said, “Okay, go, but only say what I tell you to say.” That is when Balaam got on his donkey to go to the king and the angel of the Lord stood in his way. Balaam couldn’t see this spiritual being, but the donkey could and refused to go further, even hurting Balaam to get away from the angel of the Lord. When Balaam beat the donkey, the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and rebuke Balaam, indicating that the irrational beast was smarter than the false prophet.

How many times do we ignore the Lord when he impedes our way? I know that overcoming obstacles is a part of the way we are wired according to God’s design, but you know what I mean. When you are about to embark on something questionable and the Lord puts roadblocks in your way, it is best to pay attention and stop when you should. The bridge might truly be out ahead.

Balaam finally made it to see the king, who took him to see the Israelites from a distance. Four times Balak expected Balaam to curse the Israelites, but Balaam blessed them altogether! Balaam said things like, “How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?” and “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!”

This infuriated Balak, of course, and he sent Balaam home. Not wanting to miss out on a nice pay day, Balaam came up with a plan to sidetrack the Israelites. He encouraged Balak to send Moabite and Midianite women into the Israelite camp and seduce the men to have relations with them as they worshiped Baal. We read in Joshua 13 that Balaam was killed when the Israelites took over the land, and he was likely singled out.

Just think about all the connections of the way of Balaam to what we have learned in our text. Balaam was greedy and power hungry, he despised Yahweh’s authority, he deceived himself and encouraged people to immorality, and he suffered the consequences of his harmful influence.

Application from 2 Peter 2:10b-16

1. It is good to know and understand God’s sovereignty over the spirit world, but do not allow yourself to become fascinated with that world

2. Burrow into the Word and do not be overly distracted with special interests –even biblical ones – so that you will not be an unsteady soul, easily led astray

3. Ask God to keep your eyes and your heart pure

4. Think often of Jesus’ Second Coming and live as though you will give an account for your life

1. Jesus is coming again

2. We hope it’s soon

3. We better be ready