Who Were Cain, Balaam, and Korah, And Why Be Concerned?

Jude 11

Woe unto them! 

Now Jude is going to tell us of some more of the characteristics of these false teachers. 

For they have gone in the way of Cain, 

Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve's first children. And we're told that God accepted Abel's sacrifice of a lamb, but He didn't acknowledge Cain's offering of his vegetables (Genesis 4: 3-5.) And Cain murdered his brother, Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous (I John 3: 12.)

So these false teachers may be trying to get rid of the those who are teaching righteousness.

And ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward,

Balak, the king of Moab was afraid of the Israelites, and hired Balaam to curse them for him. But God told him not to go, for these were God's people and were not to be cursed, because they were blessed (Numbers 22: 12). 

But Balaam went anyway, because he was greedy for the reward Balak promised him. God put blessings in his mouth for the Israelites, which made Balak angry, so Balaam conspired to make the people sin so that God would curse them. 

So we need to discern if the teacher we're considering to hire is overly concerned about the remuneration he or she would receive.

And perished in the gainsaying of Korah. 

Korah was a Levite of the family of Kohath (Numbers 16: 1). The Kohathites had a very high position in the handling of the Tabernacle in the desert--they had the responsibility for the holy items inside the tent (Numbers 4: 4). They were not allowed to look on them, but after the Priests would cover them and pack everything for moving, then the Kohathites would be permitted to come in and carry out all the sacred furniture to the next place of the camp (Numbers 4: 15). 

Korah teamed up with Dathan and Abiram, who were not even of the tribe of Levi, but of Reuben. And they gathered two hundred and fifty of the princes of Israel, and confronted Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16: 1-2). 

They accused them of lording their power over the people, and that the people were just as holy and had as much authority as Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16: 3). They didn't consider God's order of authority at all, but wanted as much status as the top guys. 

Because of the disrespect they showed God and His ways, the ground opened up and swallowed them and all they had (Numbers 16: 32-33), and fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred fifty who were offering incense (Numbers 16: 35). 

So they all perished. God is serious about His order of authority. And when there are people in the church who are reaching above their position, we need to take note of who they are, and speak out. We cannot allow the Truth of God's Word to be diluted or twisted or discounted in our churches. 

Too many have already gone down this path, and are no longer God's church, but are just Christian in name. 

We need to be alert to discern who would be displaying these characteristics: if they seem overly concerned about their paycheck more than caring for the people, or if they don't seem to respect God's order of authority in the church, or if they seem like they're against others who are righteously teaching God's Word faithfully and accurately. 

O my Father, please help us to keep the purity of Your Truth as You have given it to us in Your written Word. Teach us how to deal with people who err in this, to set them aright, or remove them from having influence in our congregations, with gentleness and firmness. 

And Father, when Your children realize that their local church has strayed from Your righteousness, give them the strength and courage to leave those congregations and lead them to Your faithful assemblies. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!