The Spirit of Cain, Balaam and Korah "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 Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withered, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." (Jude 1:11-13) While there are many false prophets in the word of God, only a few started off living righteously or for Him. Cain, Balaam and Korah are such men who once knew God. Similarly their master the devil once was next to the Most High God until his vanity and pride caused him to fall into perdition. There are three reasons why we must understand the motivation of these three. First, if we understand their origins and their motivations, we then can easily discern the false prophets who may come our way. Second, this knowledge will enable us to avoid these pitfalls in our walk with the Lord. Third, one should recognize the traps that the enemy has set in front of us. Each of these flaws involve selfishness, and Jude's letter or epistle was written to warn of this spirit of falsehood. Now we will explore the character flaws of these three men. Each one of these represents a particular flaw that could ensnare or capture anyone of us if we fail to desire God and His word above all things. The Cain spirit represents those who are plagued with the character flaw of self-will. The name "Cain" means maker or fabricator, one who make his own way. On the contrary, the Scriptures tell us that He must increase, and I decrease. Also that all must die to self daily, this is taking up our cross or crucifying our desires. Cain attempted to fulfill God's plan according to his own methods (see Genesis 4), this is a classic example of self-will. We find that Cain's sacrifice was rejected because it conflicted with what God has instructed him to accomplish. Instead of acknowledging God's way as right and repenting of his, Cain did not turn from his own way. God even confronted him advising him that sin lay at the door or close-by if he failed to heed God's will. His depression and anger gave place to a spirit of murder as he killed his own brother Abel. He did his way and paid an enormous price in doing so! God declared that he would be a fugitive and a vagabond throughout the earth (Genesis 4:11-12). Our self-will possess the power to pervert our perspective in the same. Self-will is the root of much sin. It is essentially choosing our own way over God's, even though we clearly know it. Clearly our choices not only effect ourselves but those also around us. If self-will remains a part of character, we will eventually be captain to devastating spiritual shipwrecks. Everyone experience rejection sometime during their lives, but how we respond to it is the key factor in whether become a "Cain" or not. Adam acted in self-will, and he was cast out of the garden (Genesis 3:23-23). Lucifer acted in self-will, and he was casted out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15). So the way we react to God will determine our destiny. If we heed His word at all times, then the conclusion of the while matter will be good. However if we do not, then we will justify our own actions and deeds despite the fact that we know that we were wrong. Unless this spirit is repented of it will eventually lead us to the broad path of destruction. Balaam's name means devourer of the people or conqueror of them. He represents those who would devourer the sheep or use use them for their own personal gain or pleasure, instead for the will of God. The Bible says that he was once a prophet to whom god Himself came (Numbers 22:9). Nevertheless, when tempted to use his prophetic gift to obtain riches and glory for himself at the expense of God's own people, he eventually gave in. This is probably the greatest temptation to anyone in authority. Leaders who feed themselves without fear, and use God's people for their own personal lust instead of seeking to fulfill their needs, will be looking forward to certain destruction without any remedy.

There are three basic areas of temptation. They are financial or political, emotional and sexual. Financial gain was offered by the king of Moab if he would curse God's people Israel. He would have to use his gift improperly to do this. Balaam sought God on the matter and was told not to curse Israel. Later on after receiving more offers of riches, he inquired again of God in hopes that He would change his mind. God answered him according to the idols of his heart, telling Balaam to go but only to speak the words that He would give to him (Ezekiel 14:1-5). The original instructions that God gave Balaam were concise and very clear, they prohibited him from going anywhere with Balak's men (Numbers 22:12). When we set anything above God in our hearts they become idols. Balaam had honored and desired riches above the will of God, therefore God spoke to him and permitted his journey (though he mercifully allowed the donkey to see the angel in the path, and thus they successfully avoided the sword of the Lord) so that he might correct him in the way, and ultimately revealing His will to the world. We should only seek glory and (spiritual and thus true or eternal) riches which come from God alone (John 5:44; 7:18). Finally there's Korah. His name means bald or uncovered. He represents rebellion often found present in the lives of Christians. The fact is the Korah was a man of spiritual renown and famous in Israel had much authority or power there under Moses. But he was greedy for gain. He and other men rose up against the servants of God, Moses and Aaron. They accused them both of taking up to much authority upon themselves, since all of Israel was holy in God' eyes. Korah tried to remove them in an seemingly democratic fashion, but he was actually conspiring to obtain more authority for himself instead of acting impartially. God had placed those men in power, let no man dissolve that which He has established. The end result of Korah's power grab was to be raptured to hell (Numbers 16:32-33). His judgment is a prophetic warning. Whenever we reject the order that God specifically ordained whether in government, nature or otherwise to set up our very own things, then we can certainly expect catastrophic and imminent punishments. However this sin can certainly be avoided if a person repents of their thoughts or sin, and submit to the God's process of restoration. Remember that spiritual authority and power does not depend on how gifted we are or may become, rather on those it was placed upon because of their love and obedience to Him. Before I go, here are two Scriptural thoughts that seem to sum up a natural conclusion to the study. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) There's no other way to obtain salvation except through Jesus. No other door or way will do. If we call upon the name of Allah, Buddha or any other god, there is no salvation available through it. Nobody can really claim a healing, exorcism, or salvation comes from God in the titles of father, son and Holy Ghost. Jesus is the way! "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15) Every man is building a house, this is representative of his life. Only those who build their lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ will stand. "If any man build upon this foundation gold,silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: ...because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work." Take heed how you build. Don't build your life with things that burn or are worthless both to you and God. A special thanks to my secretary and brother in Christ, Alberto. He has been a faithful Baruch (Jeremiah 36:4) to the ministry.