Have you ever known a hypocrite? You know, someone who acted or said one thing when in the presence of one group of people but then acted or said something else when in the presence of another. Maybe you’ve had someone like that specifically target you in their hypocrisy, treating you one way and then talking about you according to another. We have many names set aside for them – one of them is “two-faced.” To be two-faced is exactly as it sounds. It is to put on one “face” in one circumstance but to display another “face” when put into another. It is inconsistent and ungodly, a terrible blight on humanity. However, it is nothing new and in this week’s sermon starter we examine one of such two-faced men in the Bible, Balaam:
Title: The Tale of a Two-Faced Man
Text: Numbers 22-24
Main Point: Hypocrisy is not a new phenomenon; it is as old as the world itself as seen in the lives of many different ancient Bible characters: the reason Adam and Eve hid from God in Genesis 3 was because they recognized their hypocrisy (vs. 8); Abraham displayed hypocrisy at least twice in instructing Sarah to lie about their relationship (Genesis 12:10-13; 20:-12); Abraham’s hypocrisy paved the way for Isaac to do the same at least once with Rebekah (Genssis 26:6-9); Hypocrisy was behind the scheme of Rebekah and Jacob (Genesis 27:6ff); Joseph’s brothers conspired against him in a fit of hypocritical rage (Genesis 37:18ff); and much of Israel’s problems throughout their history can be traced back to utter hypocrisy. James levied a warning near the end of the Bible that has never been proven more true in the lives of all these people and countless others – “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). In Numbers 22 we are introduced to a man who was as double minded as a man has ever been – its his story that teaches us about the need for consistency in our lives.
Discussion Points:
§ The Biography of the Two-Faced Man – our text essentially reveals three facts about Balaam’s life: he was a diviner, he was the son of Beor, and he was from Pethor. However, from other Bible passages we learn additional information. He was a native of Mesopotamia (Deuteronomy 23:4); though he was a Gentile man he still had a knowledge of the true God and could speak intelligently about Him; and as Balaam functioned in the role of a prophet (2 Peter 2:15-16) he had the capability to communicate with God (Numbers 22:8). However, it would be assumed that a prophet in contact with God would at the same time be a loyal and devoted servant of God – Balaam, though, shows that prophets were also human and given to human weaknesses. As a prophet, Balaam was well-known enough that he was specifically selected by the mighty Moabite king to carry out his dastardly scheme – this is where the account begins in Numbers 22. When Israel had set up camp in Moab in anticipation of crossing the Jordan into Canaan. However, Balak, the king, had long since heard of Israel’s power because of their relationship with God and feared them; thus he sent for Balaam hoping that a prophet’s curse could disable them before they could do any damage. This put Balaam in a precarious situation, not because of any moral relativity, but because as a two-faced man he now had a lot of pandering to do.
§ The Bargain of the Two-Faced Man – so the pandering began – immediately after Balaam was approached by Balak’s messengers he went to God to seek counsel. That’s great! What a marvelous attitude to first go to God – His response was quite clear to not go with them (Numbers 22:12). At that point the matter should have been settled, he was told not to go and that should have been it. However, after hearing he would not come Balak sent messengers again with this message – Numbers 22:16-17. Balaam responded he would do nothing God had not authorized him to do, but he sought another response from God (vs. 19). But why did he need another response? He had already received the word of the Lord! However, the second time God responded with the provision that if the men called on him in the morning he could accompany them (vs. 20). But in the morning Balaam rose up and of his own accord went to Moab with the messengers (vs. 21). These messengers had not called for him. Balaam was bargaining with both sides hoping that one would eventually yield their demands – because of his hypocrisy God’s anger was kindled against him.
§ The Betrayal of the Two-Faced Man – Numbers 23-24 records three different exchanges between Balak, Balaam, and God, none of which was necessary – the matter should have been settled at Numbers 22:12! The irony with two-faced men like Balaam is that while they are busy trying to satisfy both parties, neither party is satisfied. He repeatedly refused to curse Israel angering Balak, but he continued to cater to Balak angering God. In many ways that was the problem with the church in Laodicea – they tried to keep one hand on God and one hand on the world but the strain tore them apart (Revelation 3:16). That’s why Peter used Balaam as an illustration concerning hypocrisy – 2 Peter 2:12-17. A damning statement is issued against Balaam, but such is and shall be the case with all two-faced men.
Are you trying to serve two masters? Such is outside possibility (Matthew 6:24). We must make a decision and help others in making the decision to serve God and Him alone – matter settled!
-Andy Brewer