Balaam is the model of a prophet gone wrong — led astray by greed and prophesying for profit. The Apostle Peter lists him among those who “have forsaken the right way and have gone astray” (2 Peter 2:15).
Jude writes of Balaam as one who ran greedily after profit (Jude 11). Peter warns that the counterparts of the false prophets of old could be seen in the false teachers of his time (2 Peter 2:1).
Balaam’s “madness” is a warning to ministers in this media-ravaged age of YouTube, X, and Facebook, in which “merch” is everything. Balaam’s story, recorded in Numbers, chapters 22-24, is required reading for ministers — especially those who though spiritually gifted are jaded and underpaid. Numbers 24, verses 1 & 2 are informative.
The LORD had twice “put a word” (message) in Balaam’s mouth, but the third time he did not go “as at other times to use sorcery” before prophesying but instead “turned his face toward the wilderness”.
“And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped [there] according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.” The prophecy was likely the most spiritual, most accurate one spoken by Balaam.
The LORD might well have placed a spiritual gift of prophecy in your life, but there is a significant difference between God putting a “word” in your mouth and the Spirit of the LORD coming upon you when you are in the right place with God. Yes, the gift will still work though you are greedy for profit gained from telling people what they wish to hear. But that will not spare you on the day when God will judge your work.
The Spirit of God will “come upon” you and bring revelation to you — as distinct from God putting a word in your mouth — only when you stop using forms of manipulation (which is what sorcery is) in your desire for reward. Stop misusing your God given spiritual gift for reward! (There’s no difference between that and the “merching” temple money-changers whose tables Jesus overturned.)
What I say to you I say also to myself. We learn many things in the ministry, but we should never learn to manipulate God’s people. I’ll make this clear: we must reject any temptation to benefit personally from a gift of grace. Nothing wrong with a stipend or salary, or voluntary offerings to ministers from people grateful for the 24-hour demanding work of their faithful pastor or other leaders. But a greedy Balaam-for-hire is another matter entirely.
Bottom Line: Don’t go to a ‘prophet’ to hear what you want to hear; and don’t reward one who will be judged by the Lord Jesus for manipulating His people for money. Balaam was killed by the Lord’s people as they conquered the land of Canaan, which tells us what they thought of him.