Numbers chapter 22. For me the word “motives” sticks in my mind when I read this chapter. I feel like some things we do aren't bad things but we do them with bad or wrong motives. We do them, not for the Lord, but for selfish reasons. Balaam refused to go with Balak's Messengers because God said don't go and curse my people. More Messengers came and offered huge rewards of treasures. God said go but only say what I tell you. So Balaam started off with good motives, to obey God. But as he went he began thinking more about the treasures. His thinking went towards what he could gain from the trip verses on representing God and his commands. When God saw that his heart what evil God put an angel with a sword in front of him to smite him. Balaam was so set on going, especially with wrong motives, that he did not recognize the donkey was acting unusual and beat him three times. It wasn't until God opened Balaam's eyes that he saw the angel of the Lord with a sword. God used a donkey's voice to speak to Balaam. I know the story sounds “fairytale” but God created all things and is powerful enough to do all things. God is the God of science which he uses to operate our world. But God is also the God of miracles. He can step out of the world of science and defy science and show his power. He can make a donkey talk. He can use whatever he wants and however he wants to do it. So God says again to Balaam go but only say what I tell you. So my thought is, we may be doing God's calling in our lives right now, but the question is What are our motives? Perhaps we started our ministry or job with great motives.
- We only wanted to do God's will.
- We only wanted to please him.
- We only wanted to obey him.
But over time we begin to get lax in our thinking and we begin to do ministry more as a self Glory versus a God glory. We want to be recognized for all the great things done versus God being recognized and getting the glory. Or we started out our ministry or job with the intent of being used by God as a way of reaching others with the message of Jesus, sharing his love with others. But after a while, we lose focus of God's calling and become stagnant with the calling of God in our lives. We gradually decrease in our effort to reach outward and eventually die having little or no impact on people's lives for the Lord. God, what is your calling for my life? Am I being obedient to the calling? What are my motives? is it for Your Glory or mine? Do I want your name lifted up or my name lifted up? Help me God to check my motives. Also, God, have I lost the fervor? Have I lost the vision and the drive to reach out to the needy, the hurting and those lost without Jesus? Or am I just going for the ride and I can't Wait till I retire so I can quit? God, I never want to do your calling for selfish reasons. God, I never want to retire from serving you. I want to be faithful till the day I die.
Ok, I’m going back to review a bit. Chapter 20 included God providing water from a rock. Chapter 21 had God directing Moses to make a bronze serpent to put on a pole so if someone was bit by a serpent and they wanted to live, they had to look at it. Chapter 22 is another chapter that may seem bizarre as it involves a donkey that God caused to talk as part of His plan for Balaam to not curse the Israelites. These chapters may contain some strange things happening that might seem far-fetched, but I see them as great reminders that God can do anything and He is not limited in any way.
Chapter 22 seems different than the chapters before it I think because it takes us outside of the Israelite camp. We get to meet Balaam and see how God spoke to him and warned him not to go and curse the Israelites. Balaam’s experience with his donkey makes me wonder about how many times that I might be so distracted by the things of this world that I miss seeing what’s really important. Balaam’s donkey saw the Angel of the Lord right away and kept Balaam from being killed, but Balaam got angry at her and struck her. He even said that he wished that he had a sword to kill her right then and there. Balaam hadn’t seen the whole picture and was being selfish. He had the wrong motive just as Pastor Blair shared about. How many times have I gotten angry about something that God was actually using for my benefit in the long run?
I took my family to Kennywood Park the other day and when it closed, we were leaving hungry so we decided to stop at a Taco Bell nearby. Let me just say that the experience there was not a pleasant one. I think the wait time was longer than most of the lines for the park rides that day. After waiting for over 45 minutes for our food to be prepared, I was thinking about just cancelling our order and leaving as my patience was wearing down and I knew we wouldn’t be getting home until way beyond my original goal of midnight. They finally called my name and I was more than ready to go.
This experience along with chapter 22 reminded me again today of James 1:19-20. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
I struggled with this chapter at first, I had to research a little… I read “numbers 22 explained” a couple times…. makes sense to me now.
I found this paragraph and wanted to share with everyone
(The LORD had allowed him to go, but had put the angel of the LORD to stop him on the way. He was headed for destruction, if the LORD had not stopped him. He is saying to Balaam, why did you not get the message that I was trying to stop you, when the ass would not go down the road? Balaam wanted to go so badly, that he was overlooking all the warning signs God had sent him. This is a lesson to us. When we start somewhere, we should ask God to block the way, if we should not go.
So many times my eyes are on the prize and not what Jesus wants from me.