What's He Saying?
Delores, my mother’s BFF of 85 years, was at her funeral. They were maid/matron of honor at each others’ weddings. Delores’ daughters and mom’s five grew up like cousins and in fact attended each others family events. We have a lot of memories. One of my favorite memories is from my bridal shower that Delores hosted at her home. She invited about 60 women from our church. At that time they had been BFF’s for over 50 years and Delores could not resist a good tongue in cheek joke on my mom. As an ice breaker every woman had a Bible character’s name placed on their back as they came in the door. Once everyone was in the door we were instructed to go up to people and ask questions to try to figure out whose name was on our back. The women would look at the sticker on your back and answer ‘yes/no’ questions to help you figure out who you were. Delores had put Balaam’s uhm … ‘donkey’ on my mom’s back. Okay, think the GASP at the end of the horse race scene from My Fair Lady.
God has a sense of humor too. In tough times, in our rebellious times, He gets our attention one way or another. Numbers 22 tells the story of Balaam, a greedy man who the King of Moab asked to curse the Israelites because they were afraid of them. On the trip to curse the Israelites God blocked the path of the donkey and when Balaam could not get the donkey to move he beat the donkey each time. Then God had the donkey speak to Balaam and opened his eyes to the angel that blocked the path.
God blocks our paths and sometimes we try to bulldozer our way through in our own strength. Got a toddler? A teenager? They just won’t listen … you know how God feels with you then. Sometimes we forge ahead through all obstacles, standing on the belief that God is going to get us through. But, you’re not on God’s path if you have to make your own way, if you have to beat the messenger. God’s word says:
James 1:5-7(HCSB)5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
When you are in God’s path there will be obstacles, but there will also be ways around those obstacles made clear. Beating your way through is not His way.
Does God need to make the Donkey talk to you today?
Renee’ Green copyright 2011
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