By Ken Blue
“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Proverbs 1:17. “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” Numbers 22:12 .
Not all of God’s warnings are written in Scripture. Many are made evident in the natural events of everyday life; sometimes He uses the bizarre.
The story concerning Balaam illustrates this principle clearly. Balaam was requested by King Balak, to come and curse Israel. He was promises untold wealth if he would comply. He went to God for direction, and was told clearly not to go. But, Balaam was determined and sought for ways to comply without Gods approval.
While on his journey, an angel unseen by him, stood in the path and turned aside this beast of burden. “And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.” Numbers 22:23. As far as Balaam was concerned, the donkey was simply being stubborn and going his own way. That too was what Balaam was doing.
Again Balaam drives him own and the donkey crushes his foot against a wall in order to stop the madness. But Balaam is determined to go forward. “And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.” Numbers 22:25.
Still ignorant of the angel standing in his path to turn him back, Balaam beats the donkey all the more. Finally, the beast falls to the ground before the angel. Balaam is now so angry he would kill the donkey if he had his sword. Just then, God opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the angel of the Lord.
God had used what appeared to Balaam as natural events to turn him back from his wicked mission. But, Balaam not only ignored the clear command of God, he ignored the three natural events intended to detour him. So, God resorted to the bizarre. God used the donkey to rebuke him! “But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” 2 Peter 2:16.
Man is in a sorry state when God must use a brute beast to rebuke or correct him. We have an example of this before us, and as bazaar is it was, he still did not repent and retreat. Another example is that of Jonah. He was told to go to Nineveh, but he did everything possible to not go. God gave him three days in the belly of a whale to reconsider. He did and he reluctantly went. The final example is the crowing of a rooster in the early morning hours that broke Peter’s heart and brought him to repentance. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:75.
You and I have the Word of God, and we should be quick to obey. In addition, we have the events of everyday life to warn and instruct. Hopefully, none of us will be so dense and disobedient that God must resort to the bazaar to get our attention.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.