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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Jude 1:11
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
We use comparisons all the time when we are trying to describe something or someone to another. These comparisons can be in real time, like explaining a food or a product by associating it with something the other person can relate to.
This tastes like that. This works in a similar way to that. This is really just a different version as that.
You get the point.
We can also do comparisons using historical perspectives, especially in regard to the actions or philosophies that people might have. These behaviors or thought processes can be both good and bad. We can also use an example of someone who was bad in the past to illuminate the goodness in someone else and vice versa.
In regard to this historical perspective, we can model it with a simple formula. X is related to Y with X being someone in the here and now while Y represents someone from the past. We see this hypothetical methodology present in today’s scripture verse as we continue to study from a letter written by Jude, Jesus’ half brother. In verse 11, we read this:
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Inserting the previously mentioned formula into the framework of today’s scripture verse, we find that the ungodly are the X and they are likened to three negative figures from the Old Testament, each a Y. Let’s look at each of them and see what the Word of God is telling us about those who choose to reject Him.
1. The ungodly associated with Cain.
They have taken the way of Cain.
You may remember that Cain was one of the first two siblings in the Bible, a son of Adam and Eve and the brother of Abel. Unfortunately, the sin that the first parents brought into the world infected their children and we see the tragic impact immediately in Cain.
First, he chose to deliberately bring less than his best as an offering to God and then when he was rebuked while Abel was praised, he led his brother out into a field and murdered him there. Then afterwards, when God asked Cain where his brother was, Cain doubled down on his transgression by pretending he didn’t know, soon discovering that God knew what had happened for Abel’s blood was crying out from the ground (Genesis 4:1-12). After this confrontation with Cain, God imposed His judgment upon him.
How are the ungodly like Cain?
Well like him, they don’t see it important to dedicate their best to God because they don’t honor Him with anything in their life. And because they hold no regard for Him, then they, like Cain, will allow sin to always crouch at their door, falling prey to its temptations and satisfying the desires of the devil.
Indeed, the ungodly take the way of Cain. We also read where they are linked with “Balaam’s error”.
2. The ungodly associated with Balaam.
...they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.
What was Balaam’s error?
Going back to the story of Balaam in the Old Testament Book of Numbers (chapters 22 through 25), you find that the King of Moab recruited the prophet to place a curse on the Israelite people with the promise of a hefty financial reward if he did. Balaam knew that he didn’t have the power to impose such a curse but he knew God could and if He would, then Balaam could collect the riches from Balak. The scriptures tell is that God commands Balaam not to curse the Israelites because they were blessed. And so Balaam turned down Balak’s offer.
Unfortunately, Balak wouldn’t give up. He continued to send groups of his distinguished officials to try and convince Balaam to change his mind. After multiple pleas, God finally tells Balaam to go to Moab but only to say what He wanted.
And so Balaam started journeying to Moab and it was on this journey that the renowned encounters with an angel of God happened, encounters that at first were only seen by Balaam’s donkey who bore the brunt of his owner’s abuse even though he was only trying to protect him. Finally, God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the threat before him and the angel reinforced God’s order to Balaam to only speak what his Lord wanted.
Once in Moab, King Balak took Balaam to a high place called Bamoth Baal where there was a good vantage point to see the Israelite encampment. After offering sacrifices, Balaam spoke words of blessing on the Israelites, an act that angered Balak who then took the prophet to the top of Pisgah. Again, Balaam offered up sacrifices and just as he did at Bamoth Baal, he pronounced another blessing on the Israelites.
Even more upset than the first time, Balak wouldn’t give up and so he took Balaam to the top of Peor where still more sacrifices were offered followed by the announcement of yet another blessing on the Israelite people. Infuriated, Balak sent Balaam home and refused to give him any reward.
Now, this account would leave someone thinking about how any of this might have been viewed as an error on Balaam’s account. It wasn’t but what happened afterwards was. For as we continue to follow Balaam’s story, we find out that he advised Balak and the Moabites to create an environment where they could cause the Israelites to sin against God. The plan involved enticing the Israelite people with prostitutes and the prospect of idol worshiping. In other words, Balaam created a plan where the Israelite people would bring a curse upon themselves through their sinful behavior.
Well, Balaam’s plan was a success as the Israelites began to worship Baal and committed sexual sin with the Moabite women. Punishing His people, God sent a plague upon them, killing 24,000. Meanwhile, Balaam collected his reward from Balak.
In Jude’s letter, we find him comparing the ungodly to Balaam’s error, seeking ways to profit off of encouraging sinful behavior while opposing the righteousness God desires.
And then, there was Korah.
3. The ungodly associated with Korah.
...they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
During the wilderness journey of the Israelites, trouble brewed when Korah, a Levite, led a rebellion of 250 men who the scriptures tell us were community leaders who had been appointed to the council. The brought their opposition to Moses and his brother Aaron and refused to follow their authority, which was really another way of saying they refused to follow God’s authority since it was God who appointed Moses to lead His people. Further, Korah decided to insert himself in a place similar to Aaron, the high priest, even though he wasn’t appointed as such by God.
We read in God’s Word that Moses ordered Korah and his rebellious force to appear before God the next day and when the group appeared at the entrance of the tent of meeting, God commanded Moses and Aaron to separate from them before sending judgment as the ground opened up and swallowed every one of them. Fire also rained down from Heaven and consumed Korah’s followers who were offering up incense (Numbers 16). Indeed, God sent His judgment on those rebelling against Him in a bog way.
The ungodly in Jude’s time (and in ours) were as insolent as Korah and those who foolishly aligned themselves with him. They openly rebel and disrespect God’s ultimate authority over all things. And like Korah and his followers discovered, God can and will send His judgment on anyone who blatantly opposes Him.
No regard for giving God their best and allowing sin to be their master like Cain.
Ever seeking to win personal gain through encouraging the sinfulness of others like Balaam.
Willing to rebel against God’s sovereignty and treat Him with dishonor like Korah and his rebellious band of Israelites.
Through this message, we indeed find the scriptures showing us how the ungodly (X) are directly comparable to the sinful acts of others in the Old Testament (Y). And in those Y circumstances, we know that God’s judgment will come as a result.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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