Eyes Open

“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him”. Numbers 22:31 NLT

I remember the first time I read this story in Numbers 22. It was only then that I came to the full realisation that there is nothing new under the sun. What is even crazier is that some of these “ideas” are actually derivatives from the Bible. For example, the concept of talking animals was always foreign yet fascinating to me. However, when I read this story of the talking donkey; I knew that there are some many revelations of reading the Bible which are yet to be revealed!🤯

So some background to the story where this scripture is taken from; there was a prophet of God called Baalam who was approached by King Balak to curse God’s people. Now there are issues here we need to address:

• Why is Balaam entertaining a King who wanted to curse the people God had called him to be a prophet over?
• Why was he even going to God to ask if he could go when the instructions had always been clear? Vs 12 “you are not to curse the people because they are blessed”
• Was Balaam hoping God would change His mind about what He had said because he had given God a “compeling reason” to?🤔

God was incensed that Balaam was still insisting on going to this King knowing that the king’s intention was to cursed blessed people; God’s people. Whether or not Balaam was actually going to do exactly as God told him when he got to the king is anyone’s guess. In my opinion, I think God allowing him to eventually go was in a way to reveal to Balaam how his heart and motives were no longer aligned to God’s purpose and plan.

It is quite evident that Balaam was so far from what God had told him. How can one have a full blown conversation with a donkey, understand what it was saying and the very first thing you say in response is “you made me look like a fool”??🤯 Firstly, that would have be a shock to my system. Secondly, I would be thinking why can we understand each other? How is that happening?🤷🏽‍♀️

I have often heard people say that “everyone has a price” and wonder how accurate this statement actually is. The right offer with the right amount attached can entice anyone to abandon any principles or values they formely had. The more I ponder on this, the more I realise that even the greatest of us can fall from grace if our hearts and motives remain unchecked.

It is also important to highlight the innocent victim in this scenario; the faithful donkey. Sometimes innocent people are affected by our selfish actions. Don’t get upset or angry when they tell you how the negative behaviour impacts them. Take it instead as an opportunity to learn, unlearn if you have to and grow from the situation.

“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart”. Psalms 26:2 NLT

The only way we can truly live a surrendered life which pleases God is if our hearts and motives are aligned in Him. We can only achieve this through prayer🙏🏽.