Numbers 22:31-40 – Called to serve God’s purpose

The ability of the donkey to communicate in human language would have caused a discerning person to listen up. Yet Balaam could engage her in a conversation and not realize the hand of God behind it. How dense could he be? So, God opened his eyes to see the angel with the drawn sword standing in front of him. Rebuking him for beating his faithful donkey, the angel told him that had his donkey not acted the way she did, he would have been dead by now. Blinded by his unbridled lust for gold Balaam had not been candid about the purpose of God for Israel. He had unwittingly put his own life at risk by acting so recklessly. This could also be true for us too. First John 2:15 reminds us “not to love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.” What are the things of the world?  John clarified saying, “they are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.” When we relentlessly pursue them,  we needlessly put our relationship and walk with God at great risk.

Balaam failed to see that if the donkey deserved to die because of her faithful service how much more should he himself die for being unfaithful to God. Even a donkey knew how to respond to her Creator, yet Balaam, a higher creature of God, would not respond appropriately to Him. He stood condemned by his action. Realizing his folly, Balaam confessed his sin by going with Balak’s envoys. He was prepared to turn back if the Lord wanted him to. But God did not want him to turn back. He only wanted to remind Balaam what He wanted him to do. So in verse 35, God reiterated to Balaam saying, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.”   

Verses 36-40 show us that Balaam finally understood that he was not free to speak as he so desired. Humbled by the incident with the donkey on the way to Moab, Balaam finally knew that he was there by God’s design. He was there to speak only as God would direct him. From his response to Balak, we conclude that he finally understood what his mission was. So he told the king unabashedly, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.” So Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

God could use circumstances, people, events, and even animals to speak to us. We must seek to be receptive to God as He prompts us through different means. Our personal ambition and agenda can be a hindrance to the greater things God wants to do in and through us.  Be careful how we handle our life and ministry. We are made to serve God’s purpose and we can never be fully satisfied doing something else. If we are not careful and receptive, we can be walking down the path of destruction!