BALAAM WILL SEAT IN JUDGMENT AGAINST TODAY’S PASTORS

In the days when kings reigned, their words were fire and brimstone. They held the power of life and death and their judgments were final whether good or bad. Appeals lay only to God. They were ten thousand times more powerful than Barack Obama or any other present day monarch you can think of.

It was during these gloomy days in history that we had prophets who without fear or favour delivered the word of God undiluted. They were not afraid to lose their lives in defense of the Word of God, His name and integrity. They were the “Truth Defenders”. Some names that fall in this league are: Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Nathan, just to mention a few.

Today, I shall be considering a rather complicated character that most of us haven’t paid particular attention to. His name is Balaam. From my childhood days, I've had a very negative impression about this great prophet. I’d always seen him in very bad light, as the bad guy who was employed to curse the blessed children of God, Israel.

Last night, I was buried in thought as I studied the word of God, I had cause to read-up the book of Numbers chapter 22 through to 24. My opinion about Balaam was about to be changed forever. I was amazed about my finding, and I think there is no better time to do an article on it than now, considering present day realities in Nigeria.

Balaam the son of Beor was a National prophet in his days. King Balak, the son of Zippor sent messengers to Balaam, that his services was needed to curse the children of Israel. I will not make any attempt to bore you with details of this encounter, am sure you know the story better than I do. However, permit me to bring out some sterling qualities of Balaam through my little narratives below which gave credence to the topic of this article.

The  princes of Moab were sent to fetch Balaam, his assignment was to curse the people of Israel. Upon receiving the instruction, Prophet Balaam did not immediately follow the princes to the palace as many a man of God will rush to Aso Rock in present day Nigeria. These days, our prophets do not even wait to be invited, they lobby their way into ASO Rock, States' Government houses and other establishments, like dogs scrambling for the crumbs that fall from our politicians' table.  Balaam asked to be given time to receive instructions from the Lord on the issue at hand.

Prophet Balaam was a man of dignity and honour, he could not be bought at any price. You see, the messengers, the princes did not come empty handed. It was recorded in the scriptures that the King, the great Balak promised to promote Balaam into very great honour, he even went further to include a blank cheque by stating thus: "I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me" Numbers 22:17 KIV. How many of us ministers can resist that?

Now, hear what a man who has respect for his office and the anointing upon his head, a man who understands the impropriety of mixing his religious role with politics had to say: In verse 18 of Chapter 22 of Numbers, Balaam addressed the Noble princes thus: "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more." This is how a seasoned 'Man of God' should carry himself. Not what we have these days where some people sell their souls and some even went to the level of entering into partnership with politicians and other very prominent persons in the society with questionable character, just for crumbs like land allocations, gifts of exotic cars, houses and sometimes private jets. Can you dine with the devil and afterwards claim innocence?

You don’t demand respect or expect it when you've first disrespected and desecrated the anointing of God upon your life. Majority of present day men of God, have lost their place in God's plan and the privileges associated with it. They go about blackmailing feeble minds for respect. Honour is earned, it is not bestowed on the possessor by mere wishing. It's amazing how we want people to honour and revere us as God. That is why men of God will go to the lengths of fabricating stories about how evil befall those who dare to challenge their unscrupulous lifestyle in the past. Sadly, many people have fallen for such cheap manipulation but am not in that league. I was just wondering why the Pharisees and others who vehemently opposed Jesus Christ in the days of his earthly ministry, not just melt like wax or just vanish from earth?

Lets fast-forward to Chapter 24 of Numbers. I will reproduce verse 10 to 13 for ease of reference:

                        

"and Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

And Balaam said unto Balak, spake I not also to thy messangers which thou sentest unto me saying, if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?" -KJV

Look around you my friend, can you find one out of a thousand men of God who can take his stand for God like Balaam? Instead we have a crop of materialistic, self-righteous pastors and Christians everywhere. Instead of telling politicians the truth, we massage their ego by singing their praises even where it is super obvious that they're neck-deep in corruption and other abominable vices. Some even go to the length of prophesying words that God hasn't authored. Others go to the length of changing the topic of their sermon simply because  a notable politician, an influential member of the society and a money bag is worshiping in their congregation.

The Church has lost her place in God's plan. She has become a harlot gracing the bed of the heathen. She has become busy chasing the wind, consumed in her passion for material gain, she has lost sight of her first love. Little wonder why her glory, splendor and power has long departed.

Is this the Church that Christ is coming for? Or should we wait for another?