For the most part, the story of Balaam has concluded. He blessed Israel instead of cursed them, and if you take what he says in the previous three chapters at face value, it almost seems as if Balaam has voluntarily switched sides to Israel.
Numbers 24:25 even hints at this, saying that Balaam “went to his place,” and Balak “went his way.” The two departed separately, and not as allies.
The sharp turnaround in Numbers 25 is made even sharper when you realize that the paganism Israel got involved in wasn’t random, but a deliberate act by Balaam—yes, the same Balaam—to finish what he set out to do in Numbers 22.
You may find that hard to believe. After all, Balaam’s name doesn’t appear anywhere in Numbers 25. Why would he be responsible?
Because later, Moses specifically calls out Balaam’s involvement: “These caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so that the plague was among the congregation of the Lord” (Numbers 31:16).
At the risk of alienating you completely as you read this (and giving you some gnarly whiplash in the process), let’s jump back to the story in Numbers 25. Understanding what happened will inevitably reveal the breadcrumbs that lead back to Balaam.
First things first, the Israelites messed up. Big time. And they did so in a way that both mirrors the previous generation’s error with the Golden Calf (Exodus 32), and foreshadows the way future generations will err (with Baal).
Idolatrous worship is nothing new. A brief mention is made in Genesis 31 of Rachel carrying her household idols with her from place to place, and Ezekiel 20:7-8 directly condemns the previous generation for not throwing away their idols when they left Egypt. God told them to, and they refused.
But this is the first time that Israel joins themselves to another god on a corporate, national level. Exodus 32 doesn’t count. Aaron’s statement there implies that they thought they were worshipping Jehovah, just in a golden calf.
This is pure, unbridled Baal worship—the first time that the most famous false god in Biblical history is ever brought up. It’s performed to excess, with immorality and gluttony and drunkenness abounding, just like it would be in later years (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Kings 16:31-33).
The worst part is that it seems to have been done willingly. According to Numbers 21:2, the Moabites simply invited the Israelites to join them in their pagan worship, and like a bachelor who just got invited to a wedding, the Israelites hastily checked “Yes” on their RSVP.
As a side note, this is where the real danger of sin exists. It’s hardly ever as blunt as the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4, where Satan literally stands in front of Him and tells Him to to sin. It’s subtle, calm, and inviting. “I would be a fool not to accept” is what most people unconsciously say.
The fallout was enormous. A plague erupts among the people (Numbers 25:8-9), just like it did with the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:35), and Israelites are the instrument of justice among their brothers (Numbers 25:4-5), just like in the wilderness (Exodus 32:26-27).
So, we know that Israel sinned. And that that sin cost people their lives. And that Balaam counseled them to do it. But what did he say? And why?
According to Revelation 2:14, Balaam was the one that told Balak how to actually curse Israel. He couldn’t do it with his words, but if he could somehow get Israel to sin, then he knew they would essentially curse themselves.
This shows a more sinister conclusion to this story than is seen at the end of Numbers 24. Balaam and Balak don’t go their own way at all…at least not permanently. Instead, they reconvene later with a new plan: If Balak wants Israel gone, Balaam will show him how to get it done.
Sin.
That’s where the invitation comes from at the beginning of Numbers 25. It wasn’t random at all—it was done at the suggestion of Balaam (Micah 6:5).
And why did he do it? Because he was under contract with Balak to curse Israel, and he knew he wasn’t getting paid unless that happened. So he took the money, taught Balak how to lead Israel into idolatry, and then enjoyed the spoils of his victory.
He’s the quintessential sellout, the prototypical traitor that knew what to do, and did exactly the opposite for the sake of greed. For him, religion was about manipulation, not holiness, and if he could use it to further his own seat at the expense of others, who cares?
It’s their fault for believing it, anyways. Obviously.