Response to Religious pluralism

The Error of Baalam

The Way of Balaam

Peter warned against “the way of Balaam,” Jude against “the error of Balaam” and John against “the doctrine of Balaam” (II Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14). God evidently considers these warnings necessary and appropriate for Christians even today.

Yet Balaam, in his day, was a genuine prophet (note II Peter 2:16), possessed great knowledge concerning God, and even received direct revelations from God. What, therefore, were his way, his error, and his doctrine?

• “The way of Balaam” was a readiness to prostitute his high spiritual gifts and privileges for “The wages of unrighteousness” (II Peter 2:14), being willing to preach something contrary to God’s Word for personal gain.
• “The error of Balaam” was evidently his willingness to compromise his own standards of morality and truth in order “greedily” to accommodate those of his pagan patrons (Jude 11).
• Finally, “the doctrine of Balaam,” which even in John’s day was already infiltrating the church, was to use his own teaching authority to persuade God’s people that it was all right for them also to compromise these standards, even “to commit fornication” (Revelation 2:14) with their idol-worshipping enemies.

No wonder Micah (the faithful prophet) urged God’s people to “remember” Balaam and his tragic end (Numbers 31:8). 

Source: https://bible.org/illustration/way-balaam

David Pawson: Micah (Unlocking the Bible Series)

Gist of Habakkuk

"Nevertheless, the unity and single authorship of Habakkuk can be demonstrated from at least three conclusive facts. First, a common theme runs throughout the prophecy, namely, that God sovereignly controls the affairs of history. Second, demonstrable points of internal dependence and relation exist between the various portions,such as Habakkuk’s patient waiting on the Lord (2: 1–3, 20; 3: 2, 16–19), his consistent portrayal of the godless (1: 4, 13; 3: 13), his reception of the Lord’s answer to his perplexities (1: 5; 2: 2; 3: 2, 16), and his confidence that the Lord will not utterly destroy his people (1: 12; 3: 1–2, 16–19). Finally, only with the closing verses of the third chapter is there a satisfactory answer to all of the prophet’s uncertainties."
The ending poetry which depicts the sufficiency of God and the joy which can be had in spite of the lack of everything else, the Lord being his strength encourages us to focus on God as the source of our strength, the one who strengthens us during difficult times and draws us higher to live by faith.

17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, andthere shall be no herd in the stalls:

18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3