February 11

The famous Balaam’s Ass story.

Read Today: Numbers 22-24
Tomorrow: Numbers 25,31

When I read today’s passage I am reminded that there is hope for all of us. If God can speak through Balaam’s ass he can certainly speak through me.
What is going through Balaam’s mind in this story? There couldn’t be a whole lot of smarts in his old, thick, dense mind.

He is clear at the first offer from Balak .... God doesn’t want him to go and yet when Balak sends the official White House cabinet members, with a Swiss bank account number, then Balaam thinks to himself... maybe God has had a change of heart. One can’t too quickly say no to offers like this, you know they only come but once in a lifetime. Testing God’s word is not a smart thing to do; in fact it can lead to an early retirement from the prophet business.

So what are our take aways from this situation?

1. When God clearly reveals his will to us we shouldn’t doubt it?
Did God really say we shouldn’t date unbelievers?
Did God really mean we should be completely honest?
Did God really intend for us to say no to every temptation?
Did God really command us to give a tithe of our income?
Did God really order us to forgive all our enemies?
2. There is always hope when God is involved.
Even when we mess up God is not limited.
If God can speak through a donkey he can certainly speak through me.
It isn’t the giftedness of the speaker; it is the power of God.
3. We find the gospel even in failure.
There is a prediction Jesus in this passage. Balaam the fool speaks of a start that will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.
This is a prophecy of the star of Jesus that will announce his birth a millennium later.

Here is a thought for the day: If I am looking for some loophole in the Bible to give me an excuse for sinning, I am an accident waiting to happen.