http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2021-22&version=NIV
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. [h] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
So apparently Shrek isn’t the only one who had a talking donkey! Seriously – I love this story. I think it is proof that God has a sense of humor. But while it’s amusing, I think there’s definitely am important lesson here. Read again the words in verse 32 – “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.”
Balaam was walking on a reckless path, and God put an angel in his path with his sword drawn, yet is was the donkey, not Balaam, that saw the angel. God opened the mouth of the donkey to get his attention. My study Bible says that ‘his dumb beast saw what Balaam was blind to observe.’
I’d say that’s proof of how far Balaam was from God. When one gets far enough from God, he tends to use various things to get our attention. Unfortunately, like Balaam, we are often so far from God that we don’t see or heed his warnings. So I guess the question for you today is this – has God been trying to get your attention? If he’s been tugging on your heart about something, you may want to heed the warning. If he’s moved in your circumstances in ways that are not comfortable, he may be trying to get your attention. If he has moved others to speak words to you that aren’t so fun to hear, he may be trying to get your attention.
I always say that sometimes God warns about our choices by tapping us on the shoulder. If we don’t listening, he sometimes will then slap us upside the head. If that doesn’t get our attention, he may kick us over. And if that doesn’t work, he may break our legs (metaphorically speaking) so we have no choice but to be still and listen.
I think many of us have stubbornly refused to heed God’s warning in areas of our lives. It is my prayer that we never get so far from God that we no longer are able to see the strong warnings he sends. When God opposes us to keep us from a reckless path, I pray that we have more sense then a dumb beast – or we could go down in history as the one whose donkey had to talk some sense into him or her! I pray that our pride does not keep us for hearing, heeding, turning, confessing and running into the open arms of our Father who welcomes us home again. I pray that in each of our lives, we do what Jeremiah 6:16 commands:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Do you have a thought to share? Anyone have a story they are willing to share about how God got their attention when they where headed down a reckless path? My story is about God giving me a chronic knee condition when I was abusing my body by working out everyday – often 30 days in a row without allowing by body to rest. It really is a beautiful thing the way he worked that out – taking away my running stopped me from running away from dealing with what God wanted to show me and heal in me. By the way, when he worked out what he wanted to do in me, he healed my knees enough so I can run again – but they still warn me when I overdo it. He is so wise and merciful! So what is your story?
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
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Forty years is almost up and the children of Israel are nearing the time to enter into the promise land. In Num 20, we find Moses is barred from entering in! Why?
ReplyDeleteGod told Moses to speak to the rock but instead he strikes the rock twice! His disobedience bars him from entering into the Promised Land. . As you read commentaries, you will see how the Rock represented Christ. (1 Cor. 10:4) Moses had struck the rock years earlier (Exodus 17:6) and water come out, symbolizing Christ was crucified for us and living water (the Holy Spirit) flowed from the throne of God to us.
Now years later it is time for more life giving water but there is no more need to strike the rock. Christ has died once!
Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
This time God tells Moses to speak to the rock not to strike it.
Num 20:8
“Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."
For years, the rod of Moses represented the power of God but now God is teaching Moses and the children of Israel something new. God is commanding Moses to speak to the Rock and the water will flow.
If you watch much Christian TV preaching, you will hear lots of teaching on “the power of the spoken word” and sadly most of it is just plan error! They teach power in our words. They say we have what we speak. There is no power in words or what we speak or say. The power of God resides with God. Geez, if I had what I spoke, I would have died a long time ago for I’ve said some pretty foolish stuff. Christians who follow these doctrines get to the point where can’t even confess they are sick or in need of something lest they “speak a negative confession” This doctrine will only produce bondage in a Christian. God is the one in control of the universe not our tongue!
The point God wanted to teach Moses and wants to teach us is if God leads someone to say something which might change something in someone’s life, the power isn’t the words spoken but rather the Spirit of God working through a person. How many times has someone said to you, “I’m glad you said that to me, it was just what I needed to hear,” Was it the words we spoke or was it God’s Spirit working through the words to bless that person? It’s the Spirit working. This is why walking with God is a relationship not a formula. God uses us despite ourselves sometimes.
sorry, my commented above was posted under the wrong day but I do have something to share for what you asked.
ReplyDelete"I always say that sometimes God warns about our choices by tapping us on the shoulder. If we don’t listening, he sometimes will then slap us upside the head. If that doesn’t get our attention, he may kick us over. And if that doesn’t work, he may break our legs (metaphorically speaking) so we have no choice but to be still and listen."
So true. I've been divorced about 7 years but a few years ago I met this Christian lady who was going through a divorce. I became friends with her and we were spending time together but like you said, God started tapping me on the shoulder. The person you are seeing is still married!!!! STOP.
I ignored it. At Second, I was talking to the director of our Bible study class, the director started talking about how his friend was dating a woman who was separated. How he still wanted God's blessings on the relationship. God wss tapping louder again.(tap 2)
I was eating dinner with a Christian friend and he started talking about Christians who were dating married woman and how God would even cause them to lose jobs because of this. Tap number 3!!! At this point, I knew "my legs" were in danger of being broken ie, financial hardship would come so it got easier to say, Yes Lord forgive me for spending time with a married woman and that was the end of my friendship with her. Even something like an impropter friendship can be very displeasing to the Lord.
On Baalam, read 2 Peter and Jude. Baalam is listed as the example of a false prophet.