DEVO 07.10.26

DEVO. 07.10.26

“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)

- In Numbers 22 we have the story of the prophet Balaam, who knew how hear from God and knew how to speak the Word of God but something blinded Balaam from being able to see.

- He was blinded by the love of money.

- King Balak had asked Balaam to curse the children of Israel.

- Something that Balaam knew he could not do and should not do!

- God clearly told Balaam in Numbers 22:12, “But God told Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!””

- ‭‭That should have been enough for Balaam to stop every conversation with Balak.

- But instead he was tempted by greed.

- The money was good but the assignment was wrong!

- Balak finds a way to keep talking to Balak and finding a way to get the financial reward.

- When Balaam was on his way to find a way to curse God’s people, the Lord placed an Angel to stand in the way of Balaam and his donkey.

- The Angel literally blocks the way that they are going and the one who should have seen the Angel, (Balaam) couldn’t see.

- The donkey sees what the prophet should be seeing and then Balaam’s donkey speaks when actually Balaam should have been speaking the word of the Lord.

- God gave the donkey the gift’s that Balaam should have been using.

- I wonder if sometimes we are trying to get some place so badly and acquire something that God does not want us to have but we are blinded by our flesh.

- 1 John 2:16 tells us, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

- ‭‭Another translation says “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

- If you pursue those things, it will blind your spiritual eyes and harden your heart.

- You will be traveling down a path that the Lord does not want you on!

- The Angel blocking Balaam was God’s mercy and grace but Balaam could not see it.

- He was blinded by the “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

- All 3 are at work in this story and they will blind you and destroy you if you give in.

- Today, if you feel like your path has been blocked, ask God to open your spiritual eyes and soften your heart to his His voice.

- It may not be a demon blocking you, it could be God.

- Maybe the path you are on has been blocked for a reason.

- Maybe instead of being angry, you should be thankful.

- God’s way is always the better way!

- Ask Him to show you His way and wait on Him for an answer before you make a move!

- Have a great weekend.