Proverbs 13, 17 says, A wicked messenger falleth into mischief, but a faithful ambassador is health. Of course, this was written in the days before the telegraph, let alone the telephone and internet. So we should think in terms of the reliance that rulers and other leaders had on such messengers. The messenger was literally the face of the ruler or leader and the mouthpiece for the needs and agenda of the person for whom he was sent. So what would make a man a wicked messenger? Well, there are a few traits that show up in Wicked Messengers. First, there's the slacker, who is wasteful. He's not dedicated to his job, so he's not punctual, and his message is delivered late or not at all. The thief, who is corrupt. He purposely stalls and steals time from his boss, but always with a good excuse for taking so much time. The negligent, who is careless. Due to his lack of care for his job, he might lose the message or simply not deliver it exactly as intended. There's the saboteur, who is disloyal. He may play both sides, even helping a competitor for a kickback or in exchange for a job opportunity. And then there's just the flat-out enemy, who is a fraud. He's there on false pretenses. He's there to undermine the message and defeat the very person who sent him. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief. It's just a matter of time before such a messenger is exposed. In some cases, it will destroy him. In other cases, he may benefit in the short term. But in every case, he does damage to the one he has pretended to be serving. This is the case with false prophets, the false messengers like Balaam. At first in reading Numbers 22, Balaam is in direct communication with the Lord and even appears to be loyal to speak only that which the Lord tells him to speak. But upon closer reading, as the story continues through Numbers 23, we see that Balaam continues to attempt to get a word from the Lord to curse Israel. But the Lord intervenes, and in Numbers 24, he continues to bless Israel through Balaam's mouth. And we get the wonderful prophecy about Jesus, the star out of Jacob, in Numbers 24, 17. But that doesn't change the character of Balaam. And the text in Numbers 25 tells us that the next thing you know, Israel is fornicating with the daughters of Moab. It's a strange thing. but there's no explanation given in the text. Then later in Numbers 31.8, we're told that the Jews slew Balaam during their war with the five kings of the Midianites. And then we're told why in Numbers 31.16, Behold, these caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor. And there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Now you can read about P.O.R., but in the text, that's it. There's no details given. It's not until you come to the book of Revelation that we're told flat out some specifics. Revelation 2.14 says, But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. And so it all adds up when you read the whole Bible. Balaam was a wicked messenger who fell into mischief, just as our proverb says, a wicked messenger falleth into mischief. And we are warned to stay away from such messengers by the Apostle Peter in his lengthy denunciation in 2 Peter 2, where in 2 Peter 2.15 he describes false teachers and false professing Christians as those which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray. following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of righteousness. Of course, no Christian should even resemble Balaam. We shouldn't hold those traits of the wicked messenger that we listed earlier like Balaam did. And if we are dedicated honest, responsible, loyal, and faithful. We will not fall into mischief, but we will be a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. And one day, we'll hear Him say, well done, thou good and faithful servant. That's the goal. Serve the Lord. Please the Lord. Be a faithful messenger.