The Ill Effects of Sin

Numbers 22:7-38
Once there was a golfer whose drive landed on an anthill. Rather than move the ball, he decided to hit it where it lay. He gave a mighty swing. Clouds of dirt and sand and ants exploded from the spot. Everything but the golfball. It sat in the same spot.
So he lined up and tried another shot. Clouds of dirt and sand and ants went flying again. The golf ball didn't even wiggle.
Two ants survived. One dazed ant said to the other, "Whoa! what are we going to do?"
Said the other ant: "I don't know about you, but I'm going to get on the ball!"
When we flirt with the world, we put ourselves to unnecessary hassle and hardship. That was the case with Balaam. We wouldn’t exactly call Balaam a good man, but he was a prophet. He served God, but he allowed money and possessions to come between him and God.
King Balak came to Balaam because he was worried about the threat of the Israelites. Balak offered Balaam prestige and profits if he would curse the Israelites. As we look at what happened with Balaam, we find the course that sin will take us when we begin to flirt with the world.

I. PERSISTING IN WRONGDOING-
Balaam kept approaching God for permission to do the wrong thing
There was no difficulty with communication. God had made Himself clear
Balaam just didn’t like God’s answer and kept looking for a way to straddle the fence
He sought loopholes around the will of God as if a different outlook would change God’s mind
Illus. The judge warned the witness, "Do you understand that you have sworn to tell the truth?"
"I do."
"Do you understand what will happen if you are not truthful?"
"Sure," said the witness. "My side will win."
Some of the ploys they used were quite silly.
Balak proposed that Balaam curse them from a direction where he couldn’t see all of them.
God doesn’t change His mind about what is right and what is wrong
God is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Heb 13:8)
With Him there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning (James 1:17)
Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Ultimately, Balaam found a way to get around God. He snared the souls of the Israelites
Balaam taught Balak how to seduce the men of Israel and bring God’s wrath on them
And the name of Balaam has been held in disdain ever since
There is no point in our trying to find justification to make our sin acceptable

II. PERCEIVING WOUNDS-
Balaam got mad at his donkey because the donkey wasn’t submissive
The donkey saw something that Balaam didn’t, and the donkey’s action saved Balaam’s life
Nevertheless, Balaam beat the donkey and got furious with it and cussed a blue streak
The donkey crushed Balaam’s foot, but it was unintentional
Balaam asked for that by being so determined to go
v. 20-21 may seem like God gave Balaam permission, but Balaam didn’t wait for the conditions
Balaam didn’t wait for the men to call. He immediately set out to go
Jude 11 speaks of those today who run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward
Balaam was being more stubborn than the donkey and he blamed