Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way, and His sword drawn in His hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before Me: And the ass saw Me, and turned from Me these three times: unless she had turned from Me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the Angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that Thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease Thee, I will get me back again. And the Angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the Word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (Num. 22:31-35)
When directing Balaam to go with the princes of Balak, God told him to go if the princes requested it and only speak that which He told him. Balaam headed out immediately and God withstood him by standing in the way of the donkey. When Balaam beat his donkey to try and get the beast to move, the Lord gave the donkey the power to speak and the donkey admonished Balaam for his mistreatment of a faithful animal. When Balaam did not appreciate the lecture, God revealed Himself to Balaam and continued His correction of Balaam. Balaam realized he was in the presence of the Lord and offered to return. God told him to go, reminding him that His ways were to be followed and to only speak that Word which the Lord gave him. Balaam went and blessed Israel even though the princes of Balak wanted him to curse Israel.
Our Lord Jesus appeared to Balaam, and the Creator, the Word of God which would be made flesh many years later, gave a donkey the power to speak that His message to Balaam might be heard and Balaam would bless Israel. Jesus had a message for Balaam to speak and bless Israel, and He has a message for us today to share, and wants us to be blessed, not for our glory but for His. God wants all to see Him and repent, to put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father. God put Himself in our place and taken our sin that we might have life. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and paid our debt that we might be free, not to sin again or remain in sin, but to be delivered from sin and free to go and sin no more.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet