Cain, Balaam, and Korah
What do Cain, Balaam, and Korah have in common? They are three Biblical characters who are all found in the Book of Jude, toward the end of the Bible: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.
I've been teaching about these three guys in youth group the last three weeks; one week on Cain, one on Balaam, and one on Korah. They provide us with three very powerful warnings about the way we live our lives.
The Way Of Cain
Cain was the first murderer. His offering given to God was not pleasing to God, but his brother's was. Cain becomes not just crestfallen, but enraged. God warns him to beware, because "sin is crouching at the door" - like a tiger, waiting to pounce on him. But Cain ignores the warning, and kills his brother. It reminds me of what the book of Hebrews says: the root of bitterness destroys many.
The Error Of Balaam
Balaam was a greedy man. He wanted the money offered to him by the king who wanted the Israelites cursed. You probably know the story of how his donkey spoke to him (and if you don't, it's a great story in Numbers 22). What many don't know, however, is that Balaam's story didn't end there. He went on to help Balak in his fight against the Israelites, and ended up being destroyed in Numbers 31. It reminds me of what Jesus said: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
The Rebellion Of Korah
Korah was power hungry. He didn't want Moses and Aaron to lead - he wanted Korah to lead. So he started a little insurrection, which didn't last very long. The whole story is in Numbers 16, including the lies and half-truths told by Korah and his followers, and the eventual result; the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and his followers alive. Numbers says that they "went down alive to the grave". Buried alive. All because Korah wanted power and greatness. Reminds me of what Jesus said: Whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all.
Beware of these three: anger and bitterness, the love of money, and the hunger for power. They are all destructive forces, and once the get hold of you, they pull you into a downward spiral of destruction.
Posted On May 27, 2005 at 5:13 AM
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