Balaam and the angel of the Lord part1

5th.: Balaam and the Angel of the Lord part1

Balaam rode his donkey to see King Balak.

God had given him permission to go.

Yet -

“And God’s anger was kindled because he [Balaam] went.

And the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him.” (Num. 22:22a-b).

Along the way, Balaam’s donkey kept seeing the 'Angel of the Lord'.

But Balaam did not.

The faithful donkey kept changing direction, to keep the angel of the Lord from killing Balaam.

Balaam did not know why the donkey kept changing direction.

Finally, Balaam and the donkey were in a narrow place, where the donkey could not change direction.

So, the donkey suddenly lay down.

Balaam became so flustered that he struck the donkey with his staff.

God then opened the donkey’s mouth to speak to Balaam (Num. 22:23-30).

Balaam did not immediately perceive the supernatural significance.

“Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam. And the angel of the Lord said unto him …” (Num. 22:31a, 32a).

Because of his unconscience desire for Moabite money & honor,

Balaam had gotten himself to where he could not discern spiritual things.

We need to ask God to show us when our desire for worldly things exceeds our desire for God.

“You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24c)