Jude 11 – 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.
“The way of Cain.” 1 John 3:12 “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.“ As early as the 2nd generation of man, after evil had infected mankind, evil was revealed as hateful. It not only did not want to live a righteous life, but it hated people who did. Those who oppose righteousness do so because they love evil and they approve and encourage those who likewise do evil. (Romans 1:32) Those who do right, by doing right, illuminate evil and therefore incur wrath and hate from those who prefer evil.
Not only did Cain not have love, and therefore did have the love of God, (1 John 4:8), but he did not love God and so he rebelled against God and he desired to assert his will above the will of God. All disobedience is pride to elevate one-self’s will above God’s will. Every disobedient act has an excuse by its perpetrator. A lack of love and respect is what is behind it. That is why children must be taught to love and obey. If they learn love, obedience and respect from their parents, they will know to apply that to God. This is no small thing.
“Balaam’s error.” Balaam was gifted by the Lord to proclaim the word of God. Even the non-believers recognized that. Balaam was a man blessed by God and he was tempted by bribery to use his blessing to curse Israel. Even after the Lord God warned him several times. Why? Balaam’s obvious desire to disobey the Lord was on full display. He clearly understood that God did not desire the Israelites to be cursed. In attempting to, what is he hoping? Is it that God may change His mind because the reward to Balaam will now be higher? Why does Balaam, having this personal relationship with the Lord, consider anything of the world worth having rather than the blessing of God? Or did he think he may have both. Too many who profess to love and follow Jesus Christ also want both, the blessings of God and the things of this world. But The Lord’s Word is clear “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father d is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
Balaam let greed consume him. He began to cherish the things of this world greater than he treasured his personal relationship with the Lord. Balaam let the world come between him and God. It is best for us to heed Jesus’ words “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Balaam erred and was sucked into the world. Balaam gave the enemies of Israel advice on how to corrupt Israel. (Numbers 31:16) He thought he found a way to circumvent the will of God. He was rewarded by Balak and lived with those people. In the end, when God gave the victory to His people, Balaam was among the enemy and killed along with them in their defeat. (Numbers 31:8). Balaam only fooled himself. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7) Greed is a faith-killer. (2 Timothy 6:10) Be happy with the blessing of God and eschew craving more than God has blessed us with.
“Koran’s rebellion.” Moses was God’s appointed leader. Sometimes people will rile up others to join them to rebel against God’s appointed ones and in doing so, rise up against the authority of God Himself. They fill people with seditious thoughts and stir up the pride within them. They forget that the man of God is called by God and that is the authority they are to respect. In this rebellion against Moses one man was right and over 250 men were wrong. (Numbers 16:1-35) The majority can all sometimes be wrong. Stand with God and heed His ways (Proverbs 3:5-6) and do not be swayed by any man, whatever the majority, but rely on God, on His Word, on His guidance, and in that way always be right. Don’t let numbers bully you out of being right with God! Never rebel against the authority of God. Korah was a Levite priest. His position went to his head. When God blesses us, don’t let the blessing go to our heads. Doing so is prideful and in rising against the authority of God one joins in what the evil Lucifer did in trying to assert his own will over the will of God. (Ezekiel 28:2) Be humble and submit to God or find oneself outside the blessings of God. (James 4:6)
Cain, Balaam and Korah were proud and did not humble himself before God. Cain (the elder brother), Balaam (a prophet) and Korah (a priest) let their positions go to their heads. They wanted to do something different, other than, or more than what God called them to. In doing so, they have perished. And what should we learn from this? Let’s be thankful to God for the blessings that He gives to us and let’s not allow our eyes and flesh to become ravenous or our pride to inflate us with ambition and discontent. Be thankful, be satisfied, and so be blessed with the peace of our God. Always, let us be thankful and praise our God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”