21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab
22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”
30 So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?”
And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”
34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.”
35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
The Lord uses any means to get our attention. In this story we see Balaam going with the princes of Moab on his donkey to see the King of Moab. The king wants Balaam to curse the children of Israel. The king is willing to pay for the curse and Balaam is willing to listen. God told Balaam not to go two times, but Balaam continues to listen to the king's messagers. Finally, God tells him to go, but not to curse the children of Israel for they are blessed. Balaam climbs on the back of his donkey to travel to see the king. On the way, the donkey sees an angel that only he can see. The donkey tries to stop the trip. Each time Balaam struck the donkey. During the third instance, the donkey speaks to Balaam and asks if he (the donkey) has ever disobeyed his master before. Balaam answers no and the Lord opens Balaam's eyes and he sees the angel for the first time. Balaam falls on his face before the angel. He tells the angel that he has sinned against the Lord. Balaam tells the angel if it displeases the angel, he will turn back. The angel tells Balaam that he can continue his journey but must only say what he is told to say.
When we are willful, we ignore the warnings of the Lord. We trespass into areas that we can not handle or get into situations that the Lord does not want us to have anything to do with. The Lord can use talking donkeys to get our attention to get us back on the path that we should have travelled in the first place. What is the Lord using to get your attention?
Lord, I can get into so much trouble when I do not listen to you. I need to listen to you and obey your word. Thank you for being with me throughout my sin, my repentance, and my consequences. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment