Your Path Is a Reckless One

In one paragraph

This message, preached by the pastor, was part of the ongoing series through 2 Peter. Before arriving at the passage in 2 Peter, he spent the full sermon walking through the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 through 25 so the congregation would understand who Peter is referencing and why. The story of Balaam, he said, is necessary background for making sense of Peter's warning about false teachers...

Read together

1. Numbers 22 Read aloud in full as the primary background text for understanding Balaam
2. Numbers 23 Summarized: Balaam blesses Israel three times despite Balak's repeated requests to curse them
3. Numbers 24 Summarized: Balaam prophesies further blessings on Israel and a coming Messiah from Jacob
4. Numbers 25:1-9 Summarized: Israel falls into sexual immorality with Moabite women, described as the aftermath of Balaam's counsel
5. Numbers 31:8 Referenced to note that Balaam died alongside five high-level Moabite and Midianite officials
6. Genesis 12 Referenced to explain God's promise to Abraham that whoever blesses his people will be blessed and whoever curses them will be cursed
7. Psalm 106:15 Quoted to illustrate that God gave the people what they wanted but sent leanness into their souls
8. Revelation 2:14 Referenced to establish Balaam's culpability in leading Israelites into sexual immorality
9. 2 Peter 2:10-3:2 Named as the current series passage, with Balaam cited as Peter's example of greed and immorality
10. 1 John 1:9 Quoted in the invitation: if you confess your sins God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness
11. James 1:5 Quoted as a benediction: if any lack wisdom ask God who gives generously without finding fault

Talk about it

1. The pastor said that everything Balaam said in the early part of the story 'sounds good and right,' yet his heart was pulling him toward the money all along. Have you ever seen someone, or yourself, say all the right things while quietly moving toward something God had already said no to?
2. God told Balaam clearly, 'Do not go with them,' but when Balaam kept asking, God said 'Go ahead and go.' The sermon pointed to Psalm 106:15, that God sometimes gives people what they want but sends leanness into their souls. What do you think it looks like in a person's life when God allows them to have what He warned them away from?
3. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord before Balaam, the professional seer, did. What does it say about the state Balaam was in that an animal had clearer spiritual sight than he did, and what might that warn us about in our own lives?
4. The pastor said there is no divination, no curse, no outside force that can touch someone God has called blessed, but that choosing sin opens a door that external attack cannot. How does that change the way you think about where real spiritual danger comes from?
5. The sermon closed with the offer of 1 John 1:9, that confessing sin brings forgiveness and cleansing, and contrasted that with Balaam, who did not repent but went back to the very thing he had intended. What do you think makes it hard for people to take that off-ramp when they know they are heading the wrong direction?