Tag: Donkey

Numbers 22: 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

 

Do you sometime feel you are standing in your own way?

Have you ever wanted to go some where and all most went to the wrong place, because you found you were going in the wrong direction.

 

I missed my plane at an airport in Paris once, I wanted to get on a plane going to Brussels but somehow I was waiting at the gate for one going to Brazil. Has this ever happen to you while you are traveling, don’t feel you are all alone. We are born going the wrong way because of sin, and it is Jesus who puts us back on track.

 

How many time do we miss the Signs that God has giving us to direct and guide, all because we become careless as Christians.

 

In the Bible we are told that there is only one thing that is importance, and that is to follow Jesus. There is nothing else that Matters.

 

But it is so easy to become careless, when place ourselves on satanic ground

 

We sometimes try to get things that God know it not good for us, because it will not lead us closer to Him; but father away from him.

 

The world strive for more everyday, everyday you see people who are court up in a world of making more, weather it is more Cars, more Houses, more Land, more Crops, more Investments, More, More, More, MONEY. 

 

I once asked a rich man how much is enough, he look at me for a while and then said, until, I said until what, he said until I have it ALL.

 

So I then asked, when you get it all, what are you going to do with it.  Try to get more?

 

Mark:8: 36:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 

As Christ representative how are we supposed to look each day? How are we supposed to act each day?

 

Many times a person life may be determined just but the way we act or look in a giving situation.

 

One day the Pastor told me that there was a complaint about me, I ask him what is was, he told me that a cretin Man who told him he will never come back to Church again because of the way I looked at him. I was floored by what he said; I don’t understand I told him.

 

He told me that one Sabbath after study service was over; I was coming down the hall getting ready to go up and start the worship service with the other Elder. This Man was standing in the Hall and he looked at me and said I looked back at him, and he could read the expression on my Face “by the way I looked back at him” that I did not want anything to do with him, that I through little of him.

 

This all happened a few years ago while I was in the middle of Radiation and Chemo treatment the second time.

 

I know I was not the best persons to be around at that time in my Life, even my Children moved out of the house. Most days I should have not even came to Church, but I did because it made me fell better then just sitting at home. But I wish now that I would have stay home that day, because of an expression of my face there is a person who may never come to know Jesus.

 

It is hard, but it is true; that it does not matter if the expression on my face was because of Pain, Sorrow, Sickness, Suffering, or just Contempt. He read something in my Face that should not have been there, and a soul may become lost because of it.

 

How about with doing Gods will, do we sometime jump the gun, and take off running with our fully listening to what Gods is saying.

 

How easy is it to misinterpret what Gods real plan is when we are bent on doing something we want to do. I am sure that no one here has that problem.

 

 Lets go to the Book of Numbers  Chapter 22: and see if any other Christian had this problem

1: And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

 

We find here that the Children of Israel had not yet intern into the promise Land, for we are told that they were still on the other side of the Jordon in the plains of Moab.

 

Now if you were the King of that country and all of a sudden a large amount of People just showed up and camped in your back yard, how would you fell about it?

 

To make matters worse, you hear all kinds of stories about them and how there God goes before them. In fact you hear stories about how they have walk through Rivers of water on dry-land, how they eat food that come down from the Heavens, and how there God goes before them into battle.

 

This would make you pretty up-set would it not?   Balak was indeed up-set!

2: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

 

The Amorites were a strong people in the Land, but were powerless to stand before the Children of Israel when God was with them.  Notice: I said when God was with them

This is a good lesion for us today, we should only fight the battle for God when he is with us, don’t try and do it on you own

 

3: And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

 

They were afraid and they were scared because they have seen what had happen to the Amorites and figure it will also happen to them next.

 

4: And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.  And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

 

Normally when an approaching army comes and besieges a City, they pretty much eat off the Land and do what ever they want. Because there were no re-enforcement in those days

 

But this was not Balak main concern, his main concern was that Israel was going to defeat all the Kings round about them, and it would only be a matter of time before he to would have to defend his kingdom.

 

Now let me ask, was God fair in his dealing with these Kingdoms?

Did they have the opportunity to know who God was?

Did they have the knowledge of the great God of Creation?

 

How do we know that the knowledge of God existed in that part of the world, look at verse #5, what does it say the King did.

 

5: He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

 

I just love the way this King describes the people of God, there is a day coming when the people of God will again cover the face of the whole earth.

 

6: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

 

The King knew and understood one thing, he had a big problem on his hand and this Man was in contact with the one person who could help.

 

What he did not know was that this same God was the one bringing these people into his homeland because they had refused to acknowledge him as there Lord and Master.

 

Moab was a descendent of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. So they had ever opportunity just like we do today to know God, but they do just like we do, they choose to turn away from God and serve another Master.

 

Jesus well said in the Book of Matthew 12:

30: He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

 

The people of Moab knew who Jehovah was but they choose the pleasures of sin for a season rather then to serve the God of creation, so the cup of there transgressions had finally reached it limit.

 

We too have the same problems; we too choose the pleasures of sin, rather then to give God not only our Life, but our Time, our Money, and our, Heart.

 

The Day of Judgment will come when we lease expect it, and rather then asking God for his forgiveness the world like Balak will search and hope to find someone who can curse the people of God who dire stand in there way.

 

Now the King is sending his delegate, his diplomat, his representative, his ambassador, what every you may want to call them; on a very special mission.

 Numbers 22:

7: And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

 

So they are doing what the people of this world would do when in trouble and need a quick fix.

How many times when you are having a problem do you look for a quick fix. You don’t need to raise your hands; it is just about all of us at times, right.

 

We are always looking the fast way out rather then having to stay in for the long hall. The King of Moab was no different he needed a quick fix so he is sending now for Balaam’s help.

Now let’s take a close look at the Man of God and what he is going to say to this envoy of people from the Moab

 

8: And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. Way to go

 

As Christian we should never take matters into our own hands. Always before entering into a matter we should make it a time of prayer and seeking to know God will. Here we have a very good example of how to handle every type of situation. 

 

9: And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

 

I am sure God did not need to ask Balaam who these men were or what they were doing there. But God always gives us a chance to explain the matter in clarity, so that God and Man are talking on the same terms and we can’t say later      “I did not understand”.

 

10: And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

11: Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

 

Balaam also knew who these people were and he also knew that the Lord God was bringing them out of Egypt to possess the land before them.

 

12: And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

 

Case is now settled and the matter is closed, right.

 

13: And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

 

Now I have a problem here with the way Balaam handles this, I think he should have used better words then the Lord refused to give me leave.

 

Maybe something like; you better get home and get your house in order because the Lord God of Israel is going to give your Land to the people before you, and don’t call on me again.

 

In the way Balaam answer these men he left an opening for the King of Moab to come back. He left an opening for satin to inter, for he wanted to please God but he also wanted to please the King of Moab, who was to give him a very lard reward.

 

14: And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

Balaam just needed to find a way around God not letting him go to claim this reward; after all he could do a lot of good with that kind of money.

 

He could build a School, go on a missionary trip, and maybe even hold some evangelistic seminars right there in the mist of all these Idolatry nations.  BUT God does not need Money he needs a people who are faithful to him in every aspect.

 

15: And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

16: And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

 

When people are bent on doing something there way, they will stop at nothing, even selling themselves to achieve what they want

 

17: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

 

This is the reward Balaam was hoping for; if he could curse these people for the King of Moab and get paid before the children of Israel invade Moab he could take is easy for the rest of his live. 

 

But Balaam knew one thing, it was not up to him, he must inquire of God.

 

18: And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

 

Does God change his mind, do we need a second time to go and ask God it is still Not OK to go.

 

How do you feel when your Children come to you and ask?

Dad I know you said No on this; but I want to check to see if it is now OK.

 

People may change, but God does not, if God told you to go,

you need to ask what’s stopping you, and if God told you to not to go,

you need to shut it down fast.

 

19: Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

 

Balaam knew who these people were he knew that God was with them and he knew God was going to answer him the same way.

 

20: And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

 

Now please notices what God told him” If these men come to call thee, rise up” and go with them

 

Here is a big problem with many of good Christian people of God

 

These men knew that God would not give Balaam permission to go with them and so they did not go to inquire of Balaam but broke camp and made ready to depart.

 

When Balaam learned this what did he do?

 

21: And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

 

Balaam did not wait for the men to come and ask, he was ready that morning to go with them; He was standing in the wrong line, waiting to go to the wrong place.

 

This happens when we know what God will is but we try and input our own will instead. Balaam did the same thing we do; and that is to try and rationalize what God said.

 

Good Christian people everyday  try and explain what God is saying rather then just paying attention to the words in God Holy Book, just read it for yourselves.

 

God was not pleased with the actions of Balaam.

 

Balaam was double-minded, pursuing a course to gain and retain the favor and honor of the enemies of the Lord, for the sake of rewards he received from them.

 

At the same time he was professing to be a prophet of God. Because the Idolatrous nations believed that curses might be uttered which would affect individuals, and even whole nations.

 

22: And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.  Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

 

If there were every a Man between a Rock and a Hard place I believe Balaam found it.

 

23: And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

 

Any one here have a Donkey, not only are they ugly but they are about the most stubbing animal there is; the only reason to ride one is because it is better then walking.

 

I am sure in Gods eyes sometimes we are just like Donkeys

 

24: But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

 

25: And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

 

Balaam did not know what was happing, but that pore little Donkey new, and he wanted nothing to do with the Angle who stood in the path he was going in.

 

26: And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27: And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

 

This kind of reminds us of what happen when we are in traffic and there is a slow poke in front of you and you just want to beat them out of the way.

 

Now please notice what the Lord does here.

 

28: And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

 

Balaam is so mad that he does not even realize he is talk to the Donkey,

 

29: And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30: And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?  was I ever wont to do so unto thee?  And he said, Nay.

 

As he now starts to realize what is going on by the way the Donkey is speaking to him, God open his eyes

 

31: Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32: And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times?  behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

 

The Angle told him, Because your ways was wicked before me:

 

33: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

34: And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

 

Balaam sure changes his tune now. Why do we have to wait for an Angle of God to knock us off our Donkey before we start to go the right way.  (And there is another word I would like to use in place of the word Donkey), Paul had to get knock his Hose

 

35: And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.  So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

 

Here is a solemn warning for the people of God today, to allow no un-Christian trait to live in our hearts. A sin which is cultivated becomes habitual; and, strengthened by repetition, it soon exerts a controlling influence, bringing into subjection all the nobler powers.

 

Balaam loved the reward of unrighteousness. The sin of covetousness, which God ranks with idolatry, he Balaam did not resist and overcome.

 

Satan obtained entire control of him through this one fault, which deteriorated his character, and made him a time-server. He called God his master; but he did not serve Him; he did not work the works of God

 

There are a lot of times in life we try and go our own way and do our own thing, forgetting that God is right there everyday watching his children.

 

We sometimes go where we should not go, and do things we should not, even look at someone the wrong way.

 

We as Christian must always be on guard against the attack of satin, sometimes when we know the will of God we too like Balaam want to go when God is saying stop.

 

We are sometimes just like Balaam when we want to follow our own way rather then following God way. Sometime we make excuses or try and put words in God mouth of what he has not told us to do,

 

We need to make sure we are following Jesus, following the Cross and not following the world.

 

If you follow the world it will lead you to destruction just like it did to Balaam, but if we follow Jesus he will lead us to eternal life is a land that eye’s have not seen and ear’s have not heard of.

 

 

God Bless

Elder Tim McNab

Restoring Gods Truth