Bibledoorajar: The Message Repeated

          Imagine Balaam sitting on a laid down donkey in between two walls when he looked up and saw the angel of the Lord complete with drawn sword. War had erupted between God's will and Balaam's greed. The message of the angel repeated that of the donkey. The word says:
      "Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
      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. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” 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 recognized danger when he saw it. The angel had said he would have certainly killed him by then except for the donkey's movements. Balaam's admitted his sin and agreed to return home if God was displeased.
       Yesterday we were talking in Bible class about how God is already at work ahead of calling us to do a specific task. God is not looking at the same things we look for as we prepare to go for Him and so it is best if we do not decide how things will be. We looked at the passage (Luke 9) where the Lord sent out his disciples to spread the word of the Kingdom. He gave them great power but He told them to leave behind some earthly things that might inhibit what God had already been working on ahead of them. A recently retired school teacher shared this story. She had realized she was not that happy being at home full time and was trying to fill some of her time with substitute teaching. Still she longed for more as she missed those little guys she had taught for so many years. She and her husband made a trip to a nearby town to go to Walmart. Her husband was in the hardware department while she shopped elsewhere. A woman was looking at rope and seemed perplexed as to which to buy. Ray offered to help and they began to talk. Soon the conversation evolved to a) the lady was looking for a retired school teacher to teach kindergarten in a christian school and b) Ray was married to just such a woman. Jeanne was hired and she now works in a school where the emphasis is on the Lord, spirituality and school work. Recently as her group prayed as their preplanning meeting ended, the lady said it was her intent to frame a piece of the "Walmart rope" because God knew all along how He planned for the needs to be met. They needed to remember that. So do we.
   

Bibledoorajar: The Donkey Who Would 't Take the Reckless Path

     Balaam had decided to saddle his donkey, summon his two servants, and join the more numerous and distinguished representatives of Balak for the return to him. The Word says that he was setting out on a reckless path. He urged his donkey forward onto the road. The donkey abruptly stopped on the way and went off the road. Balaam hit the donkey to get him to return to the road. They came to a narrow place in a vineyard with walls on each side. The donkey shied and got so close to the side that Balaam's foot was crushed against the wall. Although the animal had never behaved in such a manner in the past, Balaam hit him again determined to control him. As they went forward the road became so narrow that the donkey could not turn so he laid down in the road.  Balaam was so frustrated and upset and God allowed the donkey to speak. He simply asked Balaam what he had done to justify being beaten three times. Now here is the question. If you knew God had spoken a truth to you about what you should do and your donkey started talking to you would that get your attention? Well, a donkey talking did not get the attention of Balaam. He continued to have a conversation with the donkey berating the animal severely. How he thought that donkey could talk without God miraculously being involved is mind boggling. Finally God opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing with his sword drawn. RECKLESS PATH, BALAAM!!!! EVEN THE DONKEY KNOWS IT!!! God is not in this!
     Yesterday's sermon in part spoke of keeping the eternal in mind as we carry out our everyday efforts. If the everyday effort is right, then it is God's will to be pursued in faith and is a safe path toward eternity. If it is not right (truth), then eternity calls for us to leave that reckless path for God is not in it. It is as if an angel with drawn sword is standing in our way. This gift of God saves us from all manner of frustration if heeded.

"High King of Heaven, my victory won

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun

Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all"

Be Thou My Vision by Ian Lind