Part 4 of the Series: A Confident Walk in Christ

Numbers 22:28

New International Version

Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

For Encouragement

God finally permitted Balaam to go with the Moabite delegation. So why did He send the Angel of the Lord to oppose him in the way (Numbers 22:22)?

He had warned Balaam to say only the message He gave him. Omniscient God that He is, He knew Balaam’s hidden desires—his covetous heart. Balaam would have said something for a reward without God’s intervention. That is how false prophets operate to win favors, name recognition, and rewards. For these, they will say anything apart from the truth.

The Christian must beware of the enticement and allurement of the world, wealth, and fame. To notice how money and fame drove the considerations and actions of Balaam towards disobedience to God for monetary reward, check his response to the talking donkey.

You have made a fool of me (Numbers 22:29). 

Remember that the dignified Moabite delegation was with him, and the donkey had disgraced him before them.

But do you know the unique part of this? Balaam did not notice that a donkey had spoken to him. How frightening should a man be to hear an animal, not only to talk with a human voice but to rebuke him? That should have shocked Balaam to recognize the supernatural, but he did not.

When the messenger of God allows greed to consume their heart, it blinds and strips them of all spiritual sensitivity. It is all flesh from then on. God help us!

Tragically, it has become the experience of most of us pastors. Numbers, recognition, fame, money, wealth, and sycophantic congregants! These have raised us to levels where no one can recognize us anymore. We could surprise the Chief Shepherd Himself. None of us can surprise Him, but the way we sometimes carry ourselves may raise that question before Him. At that level, we have learned so much that we take ownership of His word and put our unique labels on it and everything else. How can we recognize the donkey has spoken with a human voice to us?

The donkey has spoken to us when we set rates for our speaking times. When bodyguards replace the Holy Spirit’s protection in the sanctuary and elsewhere, the donkey reminds us that the Lord walked through immense crowds without fear of personal attack. He had only His grace to dispense. When the Pastor can no longer sit to eat in the same space with the congregants during functions but has to receive service in a private space, the donkey has spoken, but his ears have dulled to the supernatural.

Balaam’s donkey spoke from God. Its rebuke was the Lord’s against his strayed path and rush for profit (Jude 1:11).

May the Lord open our eyes to see Him standing in the road with His drawn sword, and may we fall prostrate in repentance and absolute surrender to Him in humility.