“This is NOT Happening”
Numbers 22:16-35
Introduction: (Drama: “I Don’t Want to Fight You Anymore” Used with permission)
Could you say that? “Ok, God you’ve got my attention.”? Did you get the distinct feeling that the guy in the drama needed God and yet wouldn’t quite let go? That can happen to you when you go from knowing about God to really knowing God and understanding what he wants from you. But certainly before God can work with you he’s got to have your attention.
You may have heard the story of the farmer who wanted to sell his donkey. A potential buyer showed up and looked the mule over. He asked if he could hitch him up to the wagon and see how he worked. The farmer did so and climbed up into the wagon with the customer handing him the reins. The customer tapped the reins but the donkey didn’t move. He said, “Giddyup” but the donkey just stood there. He cried out “Ahhhhah” but the donkey just looked straight ahead. The farmer got down off the wagon, picked up a two by four and hit the animal right between the eyes. While the donkey staggered the farmer got back up into the wagon and said, “Now try it.” The customer tapped the reins, the donkey moved out and the old farmer said, “He’s a good donkey, but you have to get his attention first.”
Well, today we want to talk about the opposite scenario.. A time where a donkey is used to get a man’s attention. It’s amazing to me that the God of the universe is actually trying to get me to notice Him. In fact, although the Bible teaches us that when we seek God we will find Him, but it also teaches that God is pursuing us, trying to get our attention because He wants a relationship with us. Jesus, in Lk 15, told three stories where he said God was searching for us, looking for us and longing for us. In the book of Revelation it tells us that Jesus is continually knocking at the door of our hearts requesting entrance. “Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.”(Rev. 3:20) So, today I want us to study this incident see how God used an unexplained phenomenon to get one man’s attention and see what lessons we can learn from it.
I BALAAM’S DILEMMA:
A little background on this man will be helpful to our understanding of this incident. The protagonist or main character in this incident is a man by the name of Balaam. Balaam was not a Godly man. He was a seer or fortune teller by trade. Many scholars even think he was a sorcerer, sort of a Far Eastern "witch doctor." The way Balaam made his money was by someone paying him to place curses or blessings on people. Apparently he was quite good at it. But don’t think of him as a Godly man. Religion was his business, not his life-style.
In Numbers 22, the king of the nation of Moab, Balak, wanted Balaam to use his powers with God to place a curse on Israel. Obviously, neither Balaam nor Balak had any idea that God considered the Israelites as God’s people! But desperate times require desperate measures and Balak, this king of Moab was afraid. The Bible says: “Then King Balak of Moab realized how many of them (Israelites) there were, and when he learned what they had done to the Amorites, he and his people were terrified. So King Balak sent messengers to Balaam... He begged Balaam to come and help him. ‘A vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth and are headed toward me,’ he frantically explained. ‘Please come and curse them for me, so that I can drive them out of my land; for I know what fantastic blessings fall on those whom you bless, and I also know that those whom you curse are doomed.’”
Interestingly enough, Balaam was willing to acknowledge that the God of the Israelites was a powerful God. But his story exposes the deception of maintaining an outward side of spirituality while living a corrupt inward life. Balaam was ready to obey God’s command as long as he could profit from doing so. Although he realized the awesome power of Israel’s God, his heart was occupied with the riches he could gain in Moab.
In fact, in Num. 22:7 the prominent leaders of Moab come to Balaam with money asking him to curse the Israelites. However, during the night God tells Balaam not to curse the Jews for God has blessed them. To his credit Balaam tells the leaders that he cannot do what they ask. Well, the leaders go back to the King and tell him the news. But Balak doesn’t give up. He figures that Balaam is just haggling over the price. So, in vs:15 the King sends more distinguished men and in vs:16 which is printed for you we see: “King Balak pleads with you to come. He promises you great honors plus any payment you ask. Name your own figure! Only come and curse these people for us.” Now, once again, to Balaam’s credit he refuses because he knows to acquiesce would be to disobey God but look at vs:19 because it gives us some insight into Balaam’s crisis of character. “However, stay here tonight so that I can find out whether the Lord will add anything to what he said before.” Now, this is the place where you got to ask, “Okay, Balaam, what part of “No” didn’t you understand?” Balaam’s got a dilemma. He wants the money but he knows that to get it he’s got to disobey God. And the very fact that Balaam asks the men to spend the night says that he is waffling or at least hoping that he could figure out some way to do both. You see, Balaam’s problem was his greed! He talked a good game but he really wanted the money more than he wanted to please and obey God. Like many people, Balaam wanted his way to be God’s way, rather than the other way around! Ever done that? I’ll admit it.. There has been more times than I’d like to admit that I’ve tried to figure out some way I could get God to agree with what I want to do. So, look what happens.
Verses 20-22 are very interesting. “That night God told Baalam, ‘You may get up and go with these men, but be sure to say only what I tell you to.” Sounds like God has allowed Balaam to go right? In fact in vs:21 Balaam does go. Yet, a number of translations say that God was mad with him for going. For example, the NLT gives us verses 19-22 this way: “That night God came to Balaam and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But be sure to do only what I tell you to do.”So the next morning Balaam saddled his donkey and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was furious that Balaam was going..” The NIV has similar language and the KJV says that “God’s anger was kindled because he went..” Why would God tell him to go and then get mad at him for going? Two possible answers. (1) Some scholars think that God really wasn’t giving him permission but in exasperation saying, “Ok, you’re going to go anyway so go ahead.” Kind of like a friend who asks your advice and you give it but the friend really doesn’t want to hear it so you say, “Ok, go, do what you want.” That’s not permission but resignation. Some think that’s what God did. (2) But another possibility and the one that I hold to is not that God was angry that Balaam went, but that he went with the wrong attitude. That’s why I picked the LB paraphrase today because I think it gives the gist of it. Vs:21-23a - “So the next morning he saddled his donkey and started off with them. ...” You see, Balaam was going with the attitude: “I’ll figure out some way to get this jackpot.” 2 Peter 2:15 tells us the “rest of the story.” In talking about people who displease God it says, “They have gone off the road and become lost like Balaam... who fell in love with the money he could make by doing wrong...” You see, that’s why God was angry that he went. He went with the wrong attitude, with a greedy, sinful heart.
But while Balaam is going with this sinful attitude God prepares one of the most incredible unexplained phenomenon to get his attention.
II GOD’S DONKEY:
I had one of our great young ladies admit to me the other day that when she heard that one of the “X-File” messages was about a talking donkey she said, “There’s no talking donkey in the Bible!” I understood her doubt. This is hard for us to believe, why even animated characters in the movies find it hard to believe.” VIDEO CLIP - Shrek - 1:03
We laugh at that and accept it in the movies because we know animals can’t talk! And yet here in Numbers 22 is an incident where a donkey speaks! How can we believe that? Well, to tell you the truth, it is unexplainable, it is incredible but I think the basis in believing this is summed up in the statement: “If you can believe the first verse of the Bible.. “In the beginning God created...” then believing the rest of the Bible is a piece of cake.” Let’s face it, if God can make everything out of nothing than making a donkey speak a few words is child’s play! It’s really a choice.. And I choose to believe the Bible is literal when it comes to these things. I believe God gave this particular donkey the power of speech for a reason. Let’s look at how and why it happened.
Due to Balaam’s secret desire to disobey God for money, God sends an Angel to stop him, in fact vs:23 says that the angel was sent to kill him! But God, being the gracious God that he is, decides to give Balaam one more chance. Let’s pick up the incident in the last of vs:23 - “Balaam’s donkey suddenly saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword. She bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat her back onto the road. Now the Angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road went between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw him standing there, she squirmed past by pressing against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot in the process. So he beat her again. Then the Angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place so narrow that the donkey couldn’t get by at all. So she lay down in the road! In a great fit of temper Balaam beat her again with his staff.” Three times this donkey puzzles Baalam. He can’t figure out why she’s acting this way because he doesn’t see what she sees. First she runs off the road... He beats her until she gets back on it. Second she scrapes his foot to stay out of the Angel’s way... He beats her again. And finally, she just flat lays down in the road... furious this time, Balaam beats her again! And then it happens! Vs:28:
“Then the Lord caused the donkey to speak! “What have I done that deserves your beating me these three times?” she asked. “Because you have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “I wish I had a sword with me, for I would kill you.” “Have I ever done anything like this before in my entire life?” the donkey asked. “No,” he admitted.” Isn’t that great? The donkey reasons with the man about why she’s getting whipped. And... this is what boggles my mind.. Balaam answers her! In fact he doesn’t miss a beat. Donkey talks, he talks back! Why didn’t he go, “Wha.. Wha... did you.. Did you just talk?” I think it may show us another insight into this man’s character. Not only is he consumed by money, he’s totally willful with a terrible temper. “Why did you beat me?” “Because you made me look like a fool in front of these dignitaries! I’d kill you if I had a sword!” And maybe at that point he would of gone, “Wait a minute.. You talked..” Except what happens next is even more incredible. Vs:31 - “Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the Angel standing in the roadway with drawn sword...” Now, incredible as it is to hear a donkey talk, it must be nothing compared to seeing an actual angel with a drawn sword! Because before he has any time to think about the talking donkey, Balaam sees the angel and says, “Yeah! And what do you want!” No, no, no, no. Something about this being brings a totally different reaction... he immediately falls flat on the ground!
Now, if anyone ever tells you God is not an animal lover you just take them to this text. The first words out of the Angel of the Lord’s mouth is concern for the donkey. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times? the angel demanded. I have come to stop you because you are headed for destruction. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away from me; otherwise I would certainly killed you by now and (here it comes animal lovers) spared her!”God used this loyal animal to get Balaam’s attention. She saved his life and helped him to see God. Balaam realizes his wrong and confesses: “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were there. I will go back home if you don’t want me to go on.”(V:34) But the angel says to go with the men but to go and completely obey God.” And as we learn, this time Balaam does just that.
III. OUR DECISIONS: (Lessons to learn)
What a great incident! But what application can we make? Well, let’s mention three lessons before we go home.
1. When temptation comes your way - run from it! Balaam would of never had to be saved from the angel if he had just done the right thing. The first time the King asks him to come he says “no” - plain and simple. But there lurked within in heart this desire, this temptation, and when the King sweetened the pot he did a very dangerous thing. He did not lock the door, toss away the key, and say, “No use fella’s, subject closed!” No, he invited the visitors to stay. Wrong move!
Please understand a couple of things about temptation. First, temptation itself is not sin. Heb. 4:15 says- “For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin.." (NCV) Jesus was tempted but didn’t sin. You see, doing right doesn’t lie in the fact that you are never tempted. Don’t become discouraged if an evil thought passes through your mind or if an evil desire comes to you. God says that you are not responsible for what flashes through your mind but you are responsible for how long it lodges there. Martin Luther once said, “You may not be able to stop a bird from landing on your head, but you don’t have to let it build a nest!” Temptation is not sin.
Secondly, understand that temptation is all bout what you allow to keep your attention. Balaam, by inviting the men into his home focused on what they offer and that led to trouble. Whatever gets your attention, gets you. I had a friend who used to say he could not go up on anything high because it made him want to jump! A pull almost like gravity pulling him down. So, what would he do? First, he wouldn’t go high up if he could help it. And sometimes refocusing does mean staying away or leaving the situation. Get up and turn the TV off. Walk away from the group that’s telling the dirty jokes. Just get up and move physically, out of the situation. But, secondly, if my friend did go to a high place like up in a glass elevator or something he would refocus his vision on something else. Because what you focus on gets your attention. If you’re on a diet and start telling yourself, "I’m not hungry! I’m not hungry!" what are you focusing on when you say that? Food. It has your attention. Your actions come from your attention. The more you think about something, the stronger it has a hold on you. You see, “Attention determines arousal and arousal determines action.” James 1:14 "Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions.” So, when temptation comes, get away from it, don’t focus on it. Like the old farmer said, “If you don’t mean to go into the house, stay off the front porch!”
2. When God tries to get your attention - listen up! Like I said at the beginning of this message, I am amazed that the Creator of the universe wants a relationship with me so much that he will use people, things and circumstances to get my attention. Now it is rare, in fact this is the only time I know of, that God uses a talking animal to grab the attention of someone, but this incident teaches us that God will use stuff to get our attention.
I’ve told you several times about my bad knees but I’ve never told you how it happened. Basketball.. Easter evening 1985. I just made a simple move.. Anyone that plays basketball will know what a “jab step” is.. I made it, like I’ve made it a hundred times before and I went down hard!! Bottom line: I tore my ACL. Because I was in law enforcement and my knee might be critical if I had to wrestle someone I had it completely reconstructed. Not with orthoscopic surgery, no, this is 1985, they opened me up and did the big number. Now, at that time in my life I have to admit to you that I was not living all that faithful of a life. Oh, I went to church but I wasn’t using my gifts for God, my witness to my fellow officers wasn’t good, I had lost my way. I used to work midnights and come to church, I used to teach every week, but now I was just going through the motions. And God used, not caused, but used this knee injury to get my attention. First, I was in the hospital for 6 days with nothing to think about but my life. It wasn’t pretty. But back then they put me in a cast for 6 weeks before they started moving my joint. Well, those of you in medicine know that there is a chemical in our bodies that helps produce scarring. I have a heavy, heavy portion of it. So, after six weeks they tried to move my knee and it wouldn’t budge! Scar tissue had built up so much that I went back in the hospital for another 6 days and they “roter-rootered” that scar tissue out. This time they put me flat on my back with a machine that moved my knee back and forth 24/7. I was flat on my back and it begin to dawn on me I was completely dependent on Deb, and others to do much of anything. And it was during that time that I also realized that I was, in the end, completely dependent on God. Just as quickly as that knee injury had occurred I could lose my family, my career, my life. And I look back I know that God used that knee injury to get me to refocus on what really mattered, on true value, not only of this life but the next. It is no accident that two years later I returned to preaching.
What is God using to get your attention? It probably won’t be a talking donkey, might not even be an injury.. But He’s trying. Maybe it’s this sermon, or a friend who’s been talking to you, or a problem that you’re going through.. Whatever it is, please listen up! Think for a moment, what is it that God might want you to do? To change? Are you willing? Remember, God wants what is best for you. And that brings us to the third lesson:
(3) When God tells you something: Just Do It! So many times I find that people think of God as a killjoy, someone who wants them miserable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like a perfect parent God wants what is best for you. Now, those of us who are parents understand that sometimes we tell our children to do things they don’t like or we do things for our children that they don’t understand, but we do it for their own good.
Pastor Scott this week was telling me about his 3 year old, Garrett. Apparently Garrett started getting up very early. In fact, Scott said that he started getting earlier every morning.. 6:15, 6:00, 5:45... and Scott & Kim realized that with the windows open for circulation, when the sun came up Garrett figured he should get up too. But he wasn’t getting his rest and neither were they! So after Garrett went to sleep one night Scott put a blanket over the window. And it worked! Scott said Garrett came into their bedroom the next morning at 7:15am.. But he said, “Daddy, sun didn’t come up! Sun didn’t come up.” But then he looked at Scott and Kim’s window and saw the light, was confused for a second and then said, “My sun didn’t come up!” Now, Scott and Kim didn’t do that to be mean to Garrett, they didn’t do it to confuse or make him miserable but as parents they did what was best for him. God’s the same way. 1 Jn 5:3: “Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard on us, but for our good.”(NCV) God caused Balaam’s donkey to talk for his good. It just shows how much God wants our best!
It’s interesting to me at the end of this story that Balaam gives up fighting God and says, “I have sinned... I will go back home if you don’t want me to go on.” Basically saying what our guy did in the drama, “God, you’ve got my attention, what do you want me to do.” Maybe today God’s got your attention. Maybe today you are seeing God for the first time as someone who will do everything in His power to have a relationship with you. The question is, are you paying attention? And if you are, are you ready say, “God, what do you want me to do?
{All scripture taken from the Living Bible unless otherwise noted}
{Drama can be found at www.willowdrama.com)
