Stubbornness

Numbers 22:21-35  

Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 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. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So, he beat the donkey again.

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. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 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?”

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

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.

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.

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. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

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.”

The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials

Hypocrisy.   It is something we all have to deal with isn’t it {Frist name}?  Well maybe noy you, But I know I do. 

One of the biggest struggles is seeing my own undesirable behaviors reflected in the mirror of my children… the arrogant attitude, the tendency to be critical.  Maybe it’s a gift.  When I see it I have a choice: Use the old cliché “Do as I say, not as I do.” or allow God to show me what I really need to change. 

And then there are the times when I give advice or counsel and then am presented with the opportunity to put that advice into practice in my own life.  You know what they say about advice?.... “Good advice is like a new chili recipe; you should try it yourself before serving it to others.”

“Good advice is like a new chili recipe; you should try it yourself before serving it to others.”

Well, I gave a talk to a group of young men.  And one of the points of the talk was to be aware of our own cycles, our behavior patterns. 

Just a few days later I found myself getting upset, trying to force a schedule to cut hay on a farm I manage, and the owner, at least in my opinion, was being difficult.  They did not want me to cut it on a certain date.  I became frustrated.  Now I didn’t lose my temper or anything, but I fumed in the truck, grumbling and complaining.  You probably don’t ever have this issue, but sometimes on the inside I am like a little child when I don’t get my way. 

But the next Dy even after I vented to my wife and my son on how difficult the customer was being, I felt God reminding me of what I had told the group of young men about cycles.  And God reminded me that he was in control.  One thing I struggle with is feeling out of control, like others have control or authority over me that would prevent my success. 

Then God brought to my mind the story of Balaam. 

Numbers 21:32 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.

As I confessed my poor attitude to God and repented and determined to trust Him as being in control I felt the anger and frustration subside.  (As it turns out It ended up raining two days later so had I cut the hay it would have gotten rained on, on top of that the customer called me back 4 days later and said I could come harvest the hay field. Which totally surprised me since I wasn’t expecting them to let me cut it for another month.)

All this to say, sometimes I am prone to push to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and then act like a child when I don’t get my way.  It is something I am learning, to trust God and not keep pushing even when the door is closed. 

How about you Friend? Do you ever find yourself set in your ways and trying to make your plans work even when situations are (or God is) blocking you?  Next time that happens, ask God to open your eyes to see what he sees.

Have an Amazing Day Friend!

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that you speak to me with the still small voice, yet I confess that I sometimes try to move forward in my own agenda rather than trusting your plans.  Help me to slow down, to seek your counsel in all things and to follow your leading and not my own will for my life. Thank you for your patience with me as I grow in this by your grace.

Amen

Point to Ponder: Am I prone to be stubborn and try to force my will instead of being sensitive to God’s leading in my life even when it comes through other people or what I perceive to be obstacles or inconveniences? 

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on:  James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Apply it to your life: Next time there is something blocking your path, ask God to open your eyes to see what is in your way.  Perhaps it is God’s angel stopping you, or it is a force of darkness that you need to help of God to overcome. 

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage.