“For God, Not Man”

Numbers 23: 1: “Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.’” This is the stuff cults are made of. Any time a religious leader, be he prophet, priest, or king, asks you to do or build something for him, even if it is in the Name of the Lord, beware! “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon” (Judges 7: 20) may have worked short term, but the fruit of Gideon’s judgeship ended in spiritual confusion. Here as well, the work of Balaam brought nothing but defeat to Balak and death to himself (Numbers 31: 8). “Build and prepare for me” never brings forth the fruit God desires.