Let’s talk about a man who was once a prophet of the living God—but for his unmitigated hunger for riches, betrayed his principles that had made him a servant of Jehovah.

The Spirit of Prophecy declares:

“When Balaam, allured by the promise of rich rewards, practiced enchantments against Israel, and by sacrifices to the Lord sought to invoke a curse upon His people, the Spirit of God forbade the evil which he longed to pronounce, and Balaam was forced to exclaim: ‘How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?’ ‘Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!’ ”2

In the history of Balaam, to gain temporal benefits, this man who had once been a servant of God betrays his faith and beliefs. He conspires against a nation that God has blessed. Trying either to curse them or cause them to bring the curse upon themselves, he presents arguments to make the simple to doubt—and with seductive strategies he puts before the most careless and lacking in consecration, temptations that upset their senses in such a way that his plan has negative results on the people of God.

Let’s look at the details of Balaam’s conspiracy against God’s people:

“Balaam knew that the prosperity of Israel depended upon their observance of the law of God, and that there was no way to bring a curse upon them but by seducing them to transgression. He decided to secure to himself Balak’s reward, and the promotion he desired, by advising the Moabites what course to pursue to bring the curse upon Israel. He counseled Balak to proclaim an idolatrous feast in honor of their idol gods, and he would persuade the Israelites to attend, that they might be delighted with the music, and then the most beautiful Midianitish women should entice the Israelites to transgress the law of God, and corrupt themselves, and also influence them to offer sacrifice to idols. This satanic counsel succeeded too well. Many of the Israelites were persuaded by Balaam, because they regarded him as a prophet of God, to join him, and mix with that idolatrous people, and engage with him in idolatry and fornication.”3

All this occurs when the people of God are just about to cross the Jordan River to enter into the promised land. When the victory is about to be completed, Satan brings this terrible attack upon the people of God.

“Great numbers of the people joined him [Balaam] in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites.

“It was not long before the poison had spread, like a deadly infection, through the camp of Israel. Those who would have conquered their enemies in battle were overcome by the wiles of heathen women. The people seemed to be infatuated. The rulers and the leading men were among the first to transgress, and so many of the people were guilty that the apostasy became national. ‘Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor.’ ”4

“Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1, 2).

When we read the above text in the context of modern times, specifically applying it, for example, to our entire society, and especially to the longtime leading country of the free world, we can see that the USA—and many other nations as well—are in serious crisis. The prophet Isaiah boldly pointed out the sins of his day; upon a closer look, we can see distinct parallels to the sins of our day.

What happened with the people of ancient Israel is repeating itself today—our society is prey to seduction, licentiousness, immorality, and the inordinate desire to possess wealth. People—whether politicians, government officials, civilians, military, and religious figures—are bewitched by temptations that make them forget their duty to God and their nation. This occurs to such an extent that the moral and spiritual faculties are almost extinct from society.

In the second half of the 20th century, as the world turned away from the deaths of millions due to genocide, suffering, and war, society looked for respite, enjoyment, and relaxation. The ground was perfect for social change—a society formed around anything but God. Citizens have been captivated by entertainment, sports, the world of news with its lies, exaggerations, gossip, and bias—all designed for the sole purpose of keeping people in a stupor, unable to use spiritual discernment. Just as Israel followed Balaam into prosperity, leisure, and degeneracy in ancient times, even the traditionally Protestant nations have wandered away from God in search of wealth, pleasure, and instant gratification at the cost of their soul.

Society buys into any number of deceptions. It’s just like in the days when Balaam managed to introduce wrong ideas about the true worship of God. Poisonous philosophies are consumed by each new generation. The people are caught in a net of iniquity. Young and old cannot understand that money, drugs, alcohol, pornography, and sexual immorality keep them captive as slaves of the enemy of God.

But many are having the experience of Balaam—and surely with them they are sacrificing many souls.

“Balaam had sold the children of Israel for a reward, and he perished with the people whose favor he had obtained at the sacrifice of twenty-four thousand of the Israelites.”5

“Balaam ‘loved the wages of unrighteousness.’ 2 Peter 2:15. The sin of covetousness, which God declares to be idolatry, had made him a timeserver, and through this one fault Satan gained entire control of him. It was this that caused his ruin. The tempter is ever presenting worldly gain and honor to entice men from the service of God.”6

Due to their mad desire for material gain and temporary benefit, leaders gradually sold the values and principles of the people, enslaving their nation to another master. Through legislation, a satanic agenda has succeeded in separating, for example, America, from the fear of God, and the principles that, if espoused, make a nation truly great. Here are just a few examples:

Over roughly half a century, subtle yet drastic changes have taken place in America that shook its foundation to the core.

In 1962, the United States Supreme Court ruled that voluntary prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.

In 1963, the Supreme Court dismantled classroom Bible reading.

In 1980, the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools was declared unconstitutional.

In 1982, the court prohibited the teaching of biblical creation.

Over the span of just twenty years, God was expelled from the public schools, censoring His name out of the language used to educate the youth.

How did the people of that generation survive such an attack? Those who were children at that time are parents and grandparents now. They were negatively impacted by the corruption, affecting them today with a decay that seems to worsen with every succeeding generation. Civic duty has been replaced by self-achievement, the Christian home by free love, Christian spirituality by affirmations, financial responsibility by quick wealth. The casualties of small decisions made by leaders led by ambition rather than principle have been high and they continue to compound every day.

Today, the pursuit of money has become more intense to the point that this unmitigated hunger spreads corruption affecting all levels of society. Without God, a nation can follow any idea or leaders promising prosperity, peace, and leisure to make their way to the halls of government—leading the people further into corruption and moral decay. The unhinged pursuit of riches and hedonism have left society morally and spiritually bankrupt.

“Here this professed servant of the living God was seated, with a company of idolaters, at a feast given in honor of their deities. This wicked prophet was indeed selling himself for reward.

“In this case we have an illustration of the great blindness which will come upon the minds of those who sacrifice their eternal interests to the love of gain. Balaam’s character had been tested and tried and was found to be dross. The fine gold of principle and steadfast integrity was gone, and the base metal alone appeared.”7

Just as the people of Israel fell into temptation and followed other gods, the American nation is on the same path and its future is not very promising without a decisive change for the better.

Those who control the government and national economy play with the future of a nation, while creating distractions by any means necessary to lead the masses at their whim.

Surprisingly, America, the renowned nation of liberty with freedom under God, has more recently been leading the rest of the world to a denial of the God of Heaven. False prophets who speak of peace and prosperity are spreading a cloak that covers physical, moral, and spiritual death. The people follow these false prophets of prosperity just as the Israelites ventured to follow Balaam, that false prophet who led them to the destruction of their own souls. When we find ourselves on the threshold of the heavenly Canaan, the enemy of God is fighting a great battle, leading more captives to destruction and entangling them with the enchantments of promises that, if fulfilled, would not give satisfaction to those who receive them.

“The world’s policy is to acquire money and advantages in any way that they can be obtained. An accumulation of this world’s treasure is the ambition of worldlings. The aim and object of the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ is to become Christlike by self-denial and self-sacrifice. They keep their eyes on the eternal riches which they can obtain by renouncing earthly treasure for heavenly treasure. Here are the conditions: He that will be My disciple, let him forsake all, and follow Me. Keep Christ in view, following where He leads the way.”8

“Near the close of this earth’s history Satan will work with all his powers in the same manner and with the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient Israel just before their entering the Land of Promise. He will lay snares for those who claim to keep the commandments of God, and who are almost on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their utmost in order to entrap souls and to take God’s professed people upon their weakest points. Those who have not brought the lower passions into subjection to the higher powers of their being, those who have allowed their minds to flow in a channel of carnal indulgence of the baser passions, Satan is determined to destroy with his temptations—to pollute their souls with licentiousness. He is not aiming especially at the lower and less important marks, but he makes use of his snares through those whom he can enlist as his agents to allure or attract men to take liberties which are condemned in the law of God. And men in responsible positions, teaching the claims of God’s law, whose mouths are filled with arguments in vindication of His law, against which Satan has made such a raid—over such he sets his hellish powers and his agencies at work and overthrows them upon the weak points in their character, knowing that he who offends on one point is guilty of all, thus obtaining complete mastery over the entire man. Mind, soul, body, and conscience are involved in the ruin. If he be a messenger of righteousness and has had great light, or if the Lord has used him as His special worker in the cause of truth, then how great is the triumph of Satan! How he exults! How God is dishonored!”9

The world needs true leaders. True to God, His law, and their own soul. Those leaders are to take the side of what is right not for convenience or reward but simply because it is what God and the nation demand. Both in government and in church, the voice of God must be heard. The spiritual rot can still be healed, the moral bankruptcy corrected only if the men who lead the people follow their Creator.

“No stain rested upon the holy character of Joshua. He was a wise leader. His life was wholly devoted to God. Before he died, he assembled the Hebrew host, and, following the example of Moses, he recapitulated their travels in the wilderness and also the merciful dealings of God with them. He then eloquently addressed them. He related to them that the king of Moab warred against them and called Balaam to curse them; but God ‘would not hearken unto Balaam, therefore he blessed you still.’ He then said to them, ‘And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ ”10

Let us pray that America—and other countries like it around the world—return into the hands of God, so that Balaam’s experience is not repeated in our lives.

Let us remember that money, entertainment, worldly fame, and everything that conspires against the will of God is all temporary and ceases to be. At the ultimate end, only God remains and only in Him is true prosperity.