Hosanna Restoration Church

In the story of Balaam we have a classic example of seeking the Lord, hearing what God has to say, and then just ignoring it. King Balak was afraid of God’s people so he thought he would arrange to have them cursed. He found out the hard way that it could not be done. In fact, God turned his attempt to have Israel cursed into an opportunity to declare even more blessings upon them.

Balaam did the right thing as soon as the offer came. He told them He would ask God what he should do. When God spoke to him, He made it very clear that he should not even try to curse them because God had already blessed them. So Balaam sent the men home who had come to make him the offer of riches for curses. I find it interesting that Balaam let them know that the only reason he would not do it was because God would not let him. Remember when Joseph was tempted his response was that he could not sin against God. Balaam basically says I want to but I can’t. When it comes to things that God does not want, we need to get rid of the want to in our lives as well.

When the king comes back with an even better offer, Balaam tells them that nothing could convince Him to do anything contrary to what God wants, but he is willing to check and see if God might say something different! Have you ever been in this situation? Where you already know what God wants but you keep checking to see if He will change His mind? Well God must have decided that since Balaam was so determined to do something that He would just send him along his way and use him to bless Israel even more.

It does not take long to find out that just because God let him go did not mean God was happy with him. In fact, God sent and angel to kill him because he was so enthusiastic about doing what God had told him not to. There is a warning and an encouragement for us all in this. We can be encouragement by the fact that if God is for us He will protect us and take care of those who would come against us. The warning to us all is not to be anxious to do what God has said we should not do.

If it were not for Balaam’s donkey, the angel would have killed him. Have you ever wondered why it is that someone else can see what lies ahead better than we can once we convince ourselves that what we are doing is okay. Some way or another, Balaam had convinced himself that since God said he could go he must have God’s blessing. And in the back of his mind he was thinking he might pick up a little treasure along the way. It was not until the donkey spoke to him that he got a clue. And then he was mad at the donkey because the donkey because he made him look like a fool. Hey, it was not the donkey’s fault. He was already looking like a fool in God’s eyes.

Balaam needed to pray and stay with what God said, but instead He prayed and hoped God would change his mind. God knows best the first time. Keep praying.