Stopping the Craziness!

The apostle Peter says a “speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Pet. 2:16).  Peter is referencing the Old Testament story of Balaam who desired to curse Israel.  He was rebuked in his actions by a donkey who God miraculously allowed to speak.  What was the “madness” of Balaam?  This term madness means “insanity, madness, or folly.”  Put commonly, it means to be crazy or out of your mind!  What was Balaam doing that would prompt the Apostle to say he was insane, mad, or crazy?

Peter said, he “loved gain for wrongdoing” (2 Pet. 3:15).  He was greedy and loved the idea of making a profit off of doing sinful things.  Peter said this is “madness.”

How many folks in our world today are insane or mad if we use this definition?  How much money is made each day by folks through wrongdoing.  The pornography industry is a 10 billion dollar a year industry.  Alcohol sales in the U.S. equal about 90 billion dollars a year.  Many make money through unethical lending and business practices.  Many lie and steal their way to money.  Peter says all of this is madness!  If we look at our world honestly, we must admit our world is insane with its love of money!  We must not give in to the craziness!

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