"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah." (Jude 11 KJV)
"Listen to what the LORD is saying: "Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD'S complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don't you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the LORD, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness."" (Micah 6:1-5 NLT)
There are certain things that can be shown regarding these three characters, Cain, Balaam, and Korah, that show the three things they represent. Cain is pretty simple to understand, as his sacrifice was based upon his works, as he was a farmer, sacrificing some of the crops he had harvested; as if God would be pleased by the labor and hard work that he did. He was jealous and very angry that God had accepted Abel's burnt offering but did not accept his.
When God confronted him about his anger, He said: "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." (Genesis 4:7 NLT) Yet he let sin control him, killing his brother, just because Abel's sacrifice was to please God, and his was to please himself! If you don't know what that means, it is very similar to Satan's rebellion against God; how he, being a glorious angel, thought and planned to be like God! But he was created, and God was his Creator! What is wrong with that picture? Pastor Bryan made a comment the other night that the mark that God put upon Cain's forehead was in the shape of a cross; which is very possible to be true!
As for Balaam, his deal was about getting paid by King Balak, as he was asked to curse the children of Israel, as they marched below in the wilderness; while the king had him try to curse them in several different directions. Each time, he looked down at them, he couldn't curse but blessed them instead. If it's okay with you, I would like to show you why he could not curse them: It was because the children of Israel were marching through the wilderness in the formation of a cross! Each time he would look down to curse them, he saw the cross, and he could do nothing but bless them. However, even though he couldn't curse them, he still found a way to get paid; by telling the king to seduce them with Moabite women and God would be angry at them.
Korah is the wiseguy who though he could get the entire community to rebel against Moses and Aaron. Yet, God had the earth open up below all of their tents, and the earth swallowed them up; all 250 of them, with their families! Thinking he was wise; he was shown to be a fool! That was why I shared the Psalm written by the descendants of Korah, a few days ago; as it says in Numbers 26:11 "However, the sons of Korah did not die that day."
God is always in control! He allows certain things to happen, and then He uses those things that might seem bad and destructive, for good and to perform something that works for His plans. Even the worst things that could ever happen, He will use it for the absolute best! The cross of Christ is His greatest witness, and the sons of Korah are authors of Psalms that proclaim the redemption offered through the cross of Christ...
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God." (PSALM 84:1-2 NLT)
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