Numbers 31:8  Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. (NIV)

—

Isn’t Balaam the Prophet for Hire, whom King Balak offered to pay handsomely for a curse on Israel? (See Numbers 22-24.) Yes, yes, he is. 

King Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, but God gave Balaam nothing but blessings for his people. So far, so good. That was the end of that. 

But it wasn’t. Balaam couldn’t conjure up a curse against Israel, but he came up with another plan to trip up God’s people, and it worked. Balaam gave the advice for the Moabites to send in women with a two-part mission. (See Numbers 31:16.)

First, they were to entice the Hebrew men into adultery. Second, they were to entice them to worship the Baal of Peor, a sex god. This worship included “fertility rites, ritual meals, and sexual union with cult prostitutes to secure agricultural prosperity.” (See [https://bit.ly/3ZKGMCQ](https://bit.ly/3ZKGMCQ) for more.)

This resulted in a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. (See Numbers 25:9.) Balaam got to look powerful and rich at last, but at the cost of his life. 

I wonder what Balaam’s donkey said about that?

A couple of observations leap from the page that are as current as what is playing on Netflix right about now. 

Sexual sin is an ongoing stumbling block or tripping hazard. 

The back door entry into worshiping false gods is the pathway of pleasure that secures momentary satisfaction but drives a wedge between us and God. 

As God was looking out for his people to bless them when King Balak hired Balaam to curse them, he seeks to bless us today as we live in alignment and attunement with his will and ways.

Right about now is a good time to live the kind of life God can bless and to build walls against what looks like pleasure but ends in destruction.

I’m pretty sure a certain donkey would agree.

—

I will build walls against the evils that would allure me into gross disobedience and false worship.

—

Our Father, thank you for seeking to bless us as we live in a deeper and abiding relationship with you. Thank you for providing a way of escape from every temptation. Bless us today with walls against evil and pathways into peaceful enjoyment of your grace and mercy. Amen.