March 6, 2025 -Roadblocks

NUMBERS 22:1-24:25

Chronological Bible Readings

 Numbers 22:20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

After being told NO multiple times Balak kept sending his men back to Balaam to ask him to come and tell him what he wants to hear. The problem is Balaam is a true prophet of God and can only say what God tells him to say. God finally tells him to go ahead and go but to stay obedient and speak only what God tells him to say. So, he heads out on his donkey. We know that the donkey was being blocked by an angel of the Lord, but Balaam didn't know. He just knows that his usually cooperative donkey is now not cooperative at all. We know that God was angry about Balak's constant call and that he was delaying Balaam's response because of it. I wonder if Balak was also angry about it and about needing to go through all this effort to tell the guy what he doesn't want to hear. That could make him reckless and blind him from seeing that something must be wrong if his reliable animal was acting different. In that blind anger he took it out on the animal 3 times.

 Numbers 22::29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

Even when God gives the animal a voice to speak to him he isn't even phased by it and only rages on. He knew that God had told him to go so he was going and this stupid animal was keeping him from going. He had said he would go and here he is being stopped because of a donkey. How embarrassing. After all he was traveling with Balam's men. Have you even been on a path that you were sure God had put you on and run into a roadblock? Maybe your progress just stops on its own that you can't see or for some reason that you can see. Do you keep pushing it kicking at it driving on only to make no progress or very little progress? Just because God say's go here do that doesn't mean that it is going to happen just as you think it should or when you think it should. It may have nothing to do with you as to why there is a roadblock so don't get angry. Look at your confirmation to remind yourself that God has put you on this path. When your donkey stops instead of beating the donkey remember that God is in control, and you will accomplish what you have been called to accomplish in His timing. Wait for Him to remove the roadblock and turn your attention to Him.

 Numbers 22:32 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.

God knew that Balaam was being reckless in his actions. He knew that before Balaam even left. Maybe some of God's anger was at Balaam knowing all this was to come. If we too are recklessly pursuing something, even something that we know God would have us do, He will have to delay us or even stop us to set us straight. Here the angel of the Lord sets Balaam straight.

 Numbers 22:34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

Balaam's response is to acknowledge his sin. He also over corrects and says he will go back. Is he thinking that there are only 2 options, stay or go? God had said go, so go back is not the answer. The path is currently blocked, so go is not the answer. What's left? Wait. Talk to God. The angel of the Lord was there to slow him down and to speak to him. He told him again to go and to only speak what the words that God gives him. He waited and heard from God.

 Numbers 24:10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

I find it interesting that Balak had Balaam inquire of God the same number of times that he beat his donkey. It may have no significance at all but I found it interesting.