Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 169th Edition.
Dear Saints,
Our passage today (2 Peter 15-17) continues with the narrative of the false teachers. We are given the example of another who was like them, Balaam.
*Deviation* (v. 15). Balaam (Numbers 23:1-24:25) was a prophet who had the power to bless and curse. The enemies of Israel enlisted his services for to curse Israel, but God forbade him. Instead of staying at home Balaam set out to go and meet king Balak, anyway, hoping in some way to make some money out of the enemies of Israel. This problem of greed is what ails the false teachers, too. They are in it for the buck and will be quite willing to compromise God’s truth for material gain.
*Denunciation* (v. 16). That God used a donkey to rebuke Balaam shows how extreme and desperate the prophet’s situation was. Equally, anyone who uses the name of Christ for gain is in an untenable situation.
*Doom* (v. 17). The false teachers will yet meet their Waterloo. They are described as clouds carried by a tempest (storm). The gloom of clouds is used to show desperation, but that is nothing. The blackness of darkness is reserved for the false teachers. Beware, false teachers!
Your Loving Pastor Chris.