Who Gives You Advice?

Sometimes I find myself in a dilemma.  I want to seek and follow God’s will, but I want to decide what God’s will is.  Have you ever found yourself in that place?  We have an interesting account in the Bible that speaks to us.

Balak, King of Moab, fearing the Israelites, wanted to hire Balaam to curse them.  At first, Balaam refuses to go because he already knows God would not have him curse the Israelites. But Balak persists and promises great rewards which seem to entice Balaam as a “prophet for hire.”  God finally allows Balaam to go but is displeased about it.

Freeze for a moment to analyze the situation.  A king wants to do harm to people he knows have God’s favor.  A prophet for hire also knows the people are favored but is enticed by reward.  It’s almost as if he is saying to God, “There is this king who has asked me to go curse Your people.  Would that be all right with You, God?”  God gives the prophet just enough latitude to pursue his own interests.  God does not approve of everything He allows.

In the morning Balaam saddles his donkey and goes with the king’s men.  No doubt he is excited about his decision and awaiting adventure!  But God isn’t finished with Balaam yet.  God sends someone faithful to Balaam to change his mind.  Who?  His donkey!  God reveals only to the donkey that there is an “angel of the Lord” blocking the path.  The donkey tried to skirt around it and Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.  Further along, the path narrowed between the walls of two vineyards.  Once again, the angel blocked the path.  The donkey pressed close to the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot, so he beat her again.  Further along the road they came to a narrow spot with no options.  The donkey saw the angel again and sat down.  Angrily, Balaam started to beat her.  Finally, God miraculously allows the donkey to speak and she asks, “Why are you beating me?”  Balaam replies, “You are making a fool of me!  If I had a sword, I would kill you right now!”  Balaam thought the donkey was making a fool of him, when in fact, the donkey was trying to save his life.  (Balaam didn’t need help in looking like a fool!).

The donkey points out that she has always been faithful to him.  At the same time, God opens Balaam’s eyes to see the angel in front of him.  Balaam realizes God has been protecting him and apologizes to God.  God does not give up on him.  It wasn’t that Balaam did not know the will of God; it was that he did not want to do it.  Sometimes we do not take the answer God gives us.  What tactics to do we use?

God advises, directs, and persuades us in a variety of ways through His Word (the Bible), people and circumstances.  Sometimes we would rather do it our own way, and that usually does not end well.  Fortunately, God does not give up on us and keeps directing and persuading.  We just need to listen and be faithful.

4832 Pondering:  In what ways do you struggle with God and where He is leading you?  Who, or what, is speaking God’s truth to you today?  What are you resisting?  Why?

You can read this interesting story for yourself in the 22nd chapter of the Old Testament book of Numbers.