Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel (Numbers 22)

Have we encountered similar situations as Balaam, meeting with problem situations one after another as we walk along life’s way?

Why is my donkey giving me so much trouble? Why is she turning to go another way? Why is she pushing against the wall and, ouch! She even crushed my foot! Why did she stop?  We start to get frustrated and may even start to curse everything and everybody around us.

We wish we could kill this donkey right now because she just isn’t going the way we want her to go!

“Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” (Numbers 22:29)

Have we ever stopped to consider…. if our way is perverse before the Lord in the first place?

“Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.” (Numbers 22:32)

Has it ever crossed our minds that the donkey’s problem behaviour was actually to save our lives and stop us from heading the wrong way?

The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” (Numbers 22:33)

Okay, maybe “perverse” is a rather strong word to use, but at times when we are not going so right in our direction in life, have we thought that the obstacles that come our way may actually be God’s timely reminders for us to return?

When things do not seem to go our way, do we immediately burn with fury, and blame others or the things around us, or sometimes even God? Why not stop to consider where are we going and be sensitive to God’s gentle nudges?

And if we have considered our ways and found them to be blameless before God, then praise God! It may just be a training for us to learn patience and reliance on our Lord God. But if not, then perhaps it is time to stop and realign our direction with God’s direction.

Must it take the Angel of the Lord to appear before our very eyes before we know that we have been wrong?

God’s grace is indeed abundant… He could have struck Balaam dead at the first instance, couldn’t He? Yet, He gave Balaam three chances to repent.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The next time our donkey fail us again, let us not immediately strike the donkey, but let us reflect and consider our ways to see if they are pleasing to God first.

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Question for reflection: Are you having problem situations with your donkey? How do you think they reflect God’s gentle nudges?

Riches (Luke 12:16-21)

In today’s parable regarding riches, we read about a rich fool who stored up for himself treasures on earth, thinking that he can eat, drink, and be merry henceforth; but God called him a fool because God is going to take his soul away that very night.

Are we such fools?

If God is going to take us away this very night, are we prepared? Or was much of our life’s pursuit on material possessions and wealth that we have not been laying treasures in heaven instead?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)

It is human nature to want to acquire more and save more so that we may feel secure. I am beginning to realise that it may be even more so for brothers because of a certain sense of responsibility towards their family. It may not be that they do not have the necessary faith in God, but that they feel compelled to provide more and better for their loved ones.

I think that it is perfectly fine to want to save up for a better future, or for rainy days, but there are a few things to guard against.

1. Take heed and beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15)

Sometimes, in our pursuit of more wealth and more possessions in the world (initially out of a pure heart of providing more for loved ones), the sin of covetousness may creep into our heart and we find ourselves with an insatiable want for more.

How much, then, is enough? I really don’t know; I doubt anyone really knows. Probably that’s why Jesus taught us that no one can serve two masters - we cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).

But the Bible tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)

In Matthew 13:21-22, it also reminds us that the “deceitfulness of riches” can choke the word, causing the believer to become unfruitful.

Lately, as I began to gain more experience and expertise in my work, I find myself wanting to do more and more. I want to learn more, be trained more, and help more. Although this is not necessary a bad thing, I know that it has brought me further away from God. That initial love and thirst for God and His Word has vanished and I cannot recall what attracts me to want to study deeper into His Words. It was until the recent English Writers’ Retreat that I rediscover my love for His Word and remember how wonderful the Bible is again.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34).

As we lay more and more treasures on earth (rather than in heaven), we will inevitably find our heart here also.

I guess, men are limited by space and time. There is only so much we can do and achieve in this life. Hence, what is it that you really want? Temporary, or eternal treasures?

2.  Do we trust riches or God?

It is interesting that in Mark 10:24, Jesus said, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” The emphasis on “trust in riches” here is not found in the other gospel books and is perhaps a good food for thought.

Do we really trust that God would provide?

And this ties in quite nicely with the last sentence of today’s parable,

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)

The “rich” in this verse is a verb in the original language, suggesting to me that these people are doing a lot for themselves, but not doing much unto God. One who does not really trust that God would provide would likely try means and ways to secure his life.

The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) is probably one such example who trusted more in riches than in God, because he “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” He was not able to trust that God can give him much more.

Therefore, let us reflect upon ourselves whether we have been trusting in riches, rather than God, and whether we have unknowingly let covetousness creep in. (Which is why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven!) Remember that life does not consist in the abundance of the things one possesses, and that life is more than food, and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:15, 23) J

1 Timothy 6:17-19 sums up today’s sharing quite nicely,

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,  storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Question for reflection: What are some ways we can be rich toward God?