August 9, 2013
Central Truth
Nothing can thwart the plans of God, and He can use whomever He pleases to accomplish His work.
Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak. (Numbers 22:34-35)
21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way 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 Balaam's anger was kindled, 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 made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell 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 oppose you because your way is perverse 1 22:32 Or reckless before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” 39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
Let's run through a simple who, where, and what to sketch this story and get a better grasp on it.
Who? Balaam was a false prophet (a.k.a. not doing the things of God for God) asked to curse the Israelites by Balak, king of Moab.
Where? Balaam is on his donkey, traveling to meet king Balak. Key point: God already told him NOT to go, but Balaam went anyway.
What happens? Balaam's donkey sees the angel of the Lord, and God opens the donkey's mouth to speak. Yes, I said Balaam's donkey speaks to him. Crazy! God then opens Balaam's eyes to see the angel of the Lord standing with a sword in his hand.
To summarize, God says to Balaam, I am opposing you because your ways are perverse. Your donkey saved your life. Continue on, but ONLY speak what I tell you to.
Balaam is mentioned again in 2 Peter 2:15b-16 (ESV), "They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness." Balaam "loved gain from wrongdoing" and continued on with his plans for his own glory even after God told him not to.
This is what blows my mind, though -- in the end, God used Balaam to bless Israel instead of curse them. Deuteronomy 23:5 (ESV) states, "But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you." Ultimately, through this crazy story, we see that God can use anyone or anything to accomplish His purpose for His glory.
After reading this, I am convicted as I look into my own heart and see the countless times I act just like Balaam. I take control of my life and act according to my plan, not God's. Like Balaam, I am consumed with myself and want to make my own name renowned. May I be completely surrendered to Christ today, so that He doesn't have to intervene multiple times to accomplish His purpose for me.
1. What are some areas in your life that you are not submitting to God fully?
2. What areas in your life are devoted solely to your namesake, your glory, and not God's?
3. After confessing those things to God, plan how you will give those things to God daily and release control of them.
4. How can you ask your community, or small group, to hold you accountable to that plan?
5. Which passages of Scripture will challenge and encourage you as you struggle? Meditate on these verses and memorize them as a "go-to" for you throughout the day.