If only I was that clever!!

I have thought about blogging so many times but just never made it to my computer.... hopeless I know.... but today I left a meeting where I felt if I didn't blog it - I would be the most ungrateful soul EVER!!

And it is all because of a story that I re-knewed today.... I had it marked and the passages are annotated so I had obviously seen it before but today it was meant to be for me - and I wanted to share the lessons I am grateful to have learnt....

 

Found in the pages of the Old Testament, the story is read from Numbers chapters 22-24 and 31.

 

Balak is the  King of Moab and is concerned about the rising and possible invasion of the Israelites who outnumbered his people "And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of he children of Israel" (Numbers 22:3).  Balak calls for Balaam - described by many as a soothsayer, or someone well-known for his ability to bless and curse people - and King Balak asks Balaam to curse the Israelites.

 

Each time he sent the request for this curse, Balak send more promises of wealth, with the status of his messengers rising with each request.

 

Balaam sought the Lord and asked if it was something that he should do and upon each request, the Lord forbid Balaam to do such a thing. After getting a 'no' many times, the Lord tells tells Balaam - to go but he can say "only the word that I shall speak unto thee" (Numbers 22:35)

 

This story is known as the Doctrine of Balaam and is applicable to all of us. You see, the Doctrine of Balaam talks about people (members of the church) who 1) seek exception to God's counsel and commandments, 2) seek earthly rewards and honours and 3) try to introduce worldy ideas, practise or standards into the church. Here are the lessons I picked up.

 

No means no!

I can't believe that someone would be so arrogant, ignorant, or just plain 'simple' - to not get it the first time. If the Lord, or my church leaders gave me an answer I would do well to listen to them. If my leaders, were then to "say to me, okay then, after saying 'no' on every earlier occasions,  and then after not listening - to all of a sudden get a 'go ahead and do it' then I would really know I was in big trouble!... the lesson: Listen in the first place.

 

Keep your eye on the ball!

I'm not going to win any prices EVER for my sporting prowess, but it doesn't mean I can't learn from others who do possess it ;-) For example, I understand very well one of sporting's well-known catch-cries "keep your eye on the ball" - or in lay-man's words - FOCUS people ;-) King Balak upped the ante each time he requested this curse from Balaam by sending  Princes of Moab and promised to honour Balak by making him more "honourable than they [Princes]" if he would come to him and perform this curse.(Numbers 22:15). In the end, Balak went, with the Lord's concession for a "house full of silver and gold" along with the honours of prior requests. Balaam went to Balak knowing that he would only be able to say whatever the Lord allowed him to say. Balaam's focus was set.... However, the only trouble with that is that an Angel appeared to Balaam a number of times along his travel - yet he never saw it!! His focus was on the wrong thing... The lesson: I pray that I always keep my family, and everything that will make me a better mother as my focus in this life.... not the honours of men, nor riches..

 

Changes for no-good

The story goes on to tell us that Balaam reached the Moabites, and as the Lord said, Balaam was only able to utter what the Lord put into his mouth - which was not a curse, but instead a blessing on the people of Israel!! Of interest  here is that Balaam did manage, not by cursing the Israelites, but by introducing  'new ways' to whittle away the commitment of the members of the church as they "commit[ted] trespass against the Lord... and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord" (Numbers 31:16). The lesson: the introduction of worldy ideas, practices and standards into the church is never going to happen and that is why I love it.... God is the same yesterday, today and forever and I like it exactly how it is.

 

A talking donkey

One of the coolest elements of the story was the talking donkey. I love animals and think they are cleverer than a great deal of people that I know - so if one was to talk to me - I would clap my hands and say "about time!!" The bit I like about the donkey is that an angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam, and because he was so caught up in the riches and honours that he would be getting, his whole judgement was clouded and he didn't see anything. So when the donkey stopped three times, Balaam beat it for stopping. Then when the donkey asked - "what's your problem?" Balaam said "that if he had been in possession of a sword he would have killed the donkey!!" Then the Lord appears... I loved the talking donkey!

 

Don't overanalyse things

And it is What I love most about the talking donkey is that an animal recognised the angel of the Lord..... because it is what it is.... the donkey didn't stand there and try and second guess itself like I probably would have, it saw and it did. Sometimes we have to do the same - look at things, be prompted to do things, be guided to places and to people and just do it. We will never know the danger that was averted or the impact that decision has made on us and on generations to come.... The lesson: we just need to take the lead from this clever talking donkey - and do!! If only I was do clever ;-)

I want to thank my friend Anne for helping me to re-know this story. She is such an awesome teacher and I look forward to next week to learn more from her.

Yours in friendship,

Mxo