Years ago my wife and I were in a rush to get into the car and get to wherever it was we were going. We were very frustrated when our plans were delayed 20 minutes because we couldn’t find the car keys. They were hanging up on the key hook, my wife was sure. I was positive they were on the TV stand. They were found in neither place.
After 20 minutes we finally found them, in the open, on a table, there really wasn’t any reason we shouldn’t have seen them. But we didn’t stop to consider that, we needed to get where we were going, so we grabbed them and went. Once on the main road, we found ourselves stopped in a long line of cars, waiting to get around an accident that took place 20 minutes earlier. Was this a coincidence or is it possible that God placed an obstacle in our path to slow us down so we weren’t somehow involved in the accident?
Most everyone is familiar with the story about Balaam and how God made a donkey speak. But within that same story is a lesson we can all learn from. Let me give a little background to the story. Balak was the king of Moab, and he was terrified by the approach of the Israelites. The size of the Israelite population in mere number scared him to death! So Balak sends men to offer Balaam (a prophet) rewards if he will come to Moab and curse the Israelites. God intervenes and commands Balaam to refuse, and Balaam obeys. Balak then doubles down and offers Balaam additional honor and wealth if he will come to Moab and curse Israel. Balaam again asks God and this time God allows him to go, but commands that Balaam only says and does what God directs him to say and do.
As Balaam begins his journey, God intervenes three times. The first time, God sends the angel of the LORD to appear with a drawn sword to stop him. While Balaam saw nothing, his donkey could see the angel. Afraid at what it saw, the donkey veered off the road to avoid the drawn sword. This greatly aggravated Balaam who then struck his donkey to force it back onto the road. Soon after, the angel appeared again and once again only the donkey could see it. This time it was on a narrow path and the donkey pressed against a wall to avoid the angel, scraping Balaam’s leg against the wall hurting him. This of course frustrated Balaam even more and he again beat the donkey. One more time the angel appeared and this time, there was no room for the donkey to avoid the angel and his sword, so the donkey simply laid down. Balaam again beat the donkey, not seeing the obstacle in his path. Three times the LORD placed an obstacle in Balaam’s path are tied, I believe, to Balak’s three attempts to have Israel cursed.
The lesson in this part of Balaam’s story is that in his blindness, Balaam didn’t realize that the disturbing behavior of his donkey was actually an act that saved his life. You see, God had said “If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live” (Numbers 22:33). Life is full of irritating obstacles that get in the way of our plans. All throughout our lives we experience numerous obstacles. It is easy to become impatient and get upset with the things and people that get in the way of what we are trying to accomplish.
There are times when obstacles are simply obstacles, life can be full of them. But there are also times when obstacles can be from the Lord. He often uses them to teach us, to cause us to grow, to gain in wisdom, and perhaps even, to keep us safe. As members of God’s family, we need to always remember that God is with us, and that He loves us and wants us to walk in peace with Him and His people. He might also want us to understand that we look at obstacles as if they aren’t meant to defeat us or deter us but rather to teach us, direct us and keep us dependent on Him. Trials and tribulations are more often than not, designed to draw us closer to each other and to God. Where our nature is to get frustrated or angry, perhaps we need to step back, take a breath, and ask God if this obstacle is His doing, and if so, what He expects us to learn from what is before us.
Thank you I helps me with taking notes. ~ Carmin Basta
Too often we “beat the donkey” when we shouldn’t, and inappropriately express our frustrations when things aren’t proceeding according to our plan. And too often “the donkey” is our loved ones (and even strangers), and sometimes ourselves. There are very very very things that merit getting angry at anyone, let alone a loved one.
Don’t beat the donkey. They might be doing God’s will, and doing you a divine favor that you haven’t understood yet.
100% Carl…. and you’re right, way too often it’s those we love the most that pay the price for our inability to remain calm.