Numbers 22:22 says, 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. Though we were told that God told Balaam he could go, it was more likely his own determination that this was what God said. Now that Balaam was on his way, an angel of the LORD stood in his way because God’s anger was kindled against him, which it wouldn't have been if God had really given him permission to go. We may at times convince ourselves that God has given us permission to do something simply because that is what we want to do, but I believe He will always let us know when we are wrong. Verse twenty-three adds, 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. Balaam did not see the angel standing in the way with his sword drawn, but his ass, or donkey did, and turned away into a field, where Balaam beat her to get her to go where he wanted to go again. In this case, Balaam was indeed dumber than a donkey, and if we are trying to do something that we know God doesn't want us to do, then so are we. Verse twenty-four states, 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. As Balaam continued on, the angel of the LORD stood in his way in a vineyard with walls on both sides. There was very little way to turn aside, so turning around would have been the only option. God will limit our opportunity to sidetrack around His opposition if we continue to go against His word. Verse twenty-five adds, 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. Once more, the ass saw the angel and attempted to get away, running into the wall and crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam once again beat her to get her to go where he wanted to go, evidently without thinking that God might be trying to tell him something. If we are determined to do something and think that God has given us permission when He hasn't, then we need to at least be aware when He sends us warnings that He hasn't. Verse twenty-six says, 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. The angel went a little further ahead, to a narrow place where there was no room to turn aside and get around him. God will ultimately make it nearly impossible for us to go against His will without directly confronting Him. Verse twenty-seven adds, 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. Once more, the ass saw the angel, and this time, with no way around, fell down under Balaam, who then beat her with his staff. The ass was trying to save Balaam, and was being beaten for doing so. Sometimes, we may treat people who attempt to get us to turn around when we are going in the wrong direction the same way. Verse twenty-eight declares, 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? God enabled the donkey to speak, asking Balaam what she had done to deserve being beaten three times. Verse twenty-nine adds, 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. Balaam told the donkey it was because the donkey had mocked him, and that if he had a sword, he would kill the donkey. Evidently, he did not find it strange that the donkey was talking, which only God could cause to happen. If we are determined to do something contrary to God's will, we may overlook even the strongest warnings that God sends us that we need to turn around. Verse thirty states, 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. The ass asked Balaam if she had not been his loyal ass and had she ever done anything like this before in the time Balaam had ridden her, and Balaam said no. Sometimes, people may turn against loyal friends if they are trying to get them to turn away from doing something that God has told them not to do. Verse thirty-one adds, 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. God then opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel standing in his way with a drawn sword. If we are receptive to God's word, He will always open our eyes to what He is telling us, and in this case, He was atelling Balaam that he was not to go to Balak to do what he wanted Balaam to do. Verse thirty-two states, 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 angel then asked Balaam why he had beaten his ass three times, since the angel had stood in his way since Balaam was perverting God's word. Since Balaam could now see the angel, God spoke to him through the angel. Sometimes, it may take us awhile to listen to God, but He will always be telling us by various ways if we are going against His will that we need to turn around. Verse thirty-three continues, 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. The angel then told Balaam that the donkey had spared his life three times by turning away from going where Balaam was determined to go, because the angel stood ready to slay him. If someone trys to keep us as followers of Christ from doing something against God's will, we certainly don't need to get angry with them about it. Verse thirty-four states, 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 finally acknowledged that the angel of the LORD stood in his way, and said if his actions displeased him, that he would turn around. It really wasn't the angel who was displeased, but God, for Whom the angel was but a messenger. Our going against God's will as Christians always will displease God. Verse thirty-five adds, 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. The angel then gave Balaam permission to go on with the men to Balak, but to only speak what God told Him to speak to him, and Balaam went on his way with them. As long as we are speaking God's word, I believe He will allow us the freedom to do so anywhere, but if we begin to use God's word for our own profit, we put ourselves in real danger of being rebuked by God.
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