Go and DO!! Donkey!!!!

Okay, so I missed writing a devotional yesterday. I was at the Doctor with my grandmother, JoAnne, so I was not able to write. I am going to combine both yesterday and today's devotionals together.

21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
31 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.
32 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. [a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
34 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."
35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"
38 "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."

After consulting with the Lord his God, Balaam (Bay lum) heard clearly that he was to go with the princes to Balak. Balak had asked him to curse the Israelites. God had asked him to go, but to only do what the Lord told him. On his travels to Balak, Balaam rode upon his female donkey. An angel appeared before them three times, yet Balaam did not see them until the donkey began to speak. It was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him. It says that God was angry. Why do you think He was angry? It doesn't say. I think God was angry because Balak wanted to curse the Israelites and they were protected by God. They were his chosen people.

29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."

Balaam obviously feared his Lord. He consulted him about the trip. God must have felt that he would seem a fool if Balaam cursed the Israelites. Both Balaam and the Israelites feared the Lord. God's anger in this situation was similar. This is probably more how God was feeling. Balaam went when he was told to, but God needed him to know how serious it was that he did and said exactly what the Lord told him. It says his path was a reckless one. The Lord wanted him to approach slowly and learn that he must be obedient to the Lord. Had Balaam pushed on to Balak and not been approached by the Angel, then he may not have known how serious the mission was. What if he swayed and cursed the Israelites?

Reading on, we find that Balak and Balaam meet. Balaam didn't waste any time letting Balak know that he was there to do God's work and that he was going to say only what the Lord his God asks.

How many times do you think you have been sent on a mission to say or do only what God asks. How many times have you succeeded? Did fear get in the way? What about your flesh? Did you boldly state your mission? When someone comes to me and says they have something that the Lord has told them to share with me, I listen.

What can you do today to listen to God more clearly? Does he need to send a speaking donkey to get your attention? How willing would you be to go on a mission for the Lord and do and say only what he asks?

Lord, thank you for this scripture. I pray that we will always be open to you and that we would be open to others who are being obedient to you. May you be blessed by our words and actions, for they ultimately define who we are.

Please continue to pray for Baby Lauren and JoAnne Adams.