The right (straight) way refers to life lived in relationship and obedience to God (see Psalm 1:1–6). Formally the heretics were part of God’s people, after all they were present at fellowship meals.1 In reality, however, they were apostates who had wilfully wandered from God (see Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 13:1–18; Deuteronomy 30:17; James 5:19). Living in obedience to God constitutes walking in his way; departing from it is the core of apostasy and rebellion against him (Acts 13:10; Deuteronomy 11:28; Proverbs 2:13).2
15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,