Specially Protected Series

Psalm 91 - Specially Protected

We read in Psalm 91:11-12, “He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.” (ERV)

Those who trust in the Lord are guaranteed an extraordinary protection over their lives. The Lord commands his angels to keep us safe in all our ways. Moreover, the angels will bear us up in their hands, so that even our foot will not be struck by a stone.

We will look at some of the incidents in the bible to understand how this was actualized in the lives of these people.

The angel of God stopped Balaam

In Numbers 22:12, we read, “And God said to Balaam, You are not to go with them, or put a curse on this people, for they have my blessing.” (ERV)

As the people of Israel were journeying towards the promised-land, the king of Moab, whose name was Balak, was apprehensive about the strength of the Israelites. He knew that they were a mighty power to reckon with and that it would be impossible to conquer them through war. He therefore, schemed that he would invite a prophet of God who would curse the Israelites, so that they would be ruined. With this in mind the king of Moab approached the prophet Balaam to do this job and speak a curse on the people of Israel.

When the men from Balak approached Balaam, he enquired of the Lord if he could go along with them. God replied him in the negative as we read in Numbers 22:12. God’s instruction was forthright to Balaam. God forbade him to go and also restrained him to not curse the people of Israel as God’s blessings rested on them. On hearing God’s word of caution, as Balaam sought to pull back, he was pressured by the king of Moab who sent more men and promised him with greater treasures. Balaam was eventually allured by the king’s offers.

The prophets of God were those who had access to God. God spoke to them and revealed His plans to them. Often they did not realize this blessed privilege that was theirs and sought to do their own thing. It is possible that we too can make this mistake. As we grow closer in our relationship with God, we should never forget that God is so great and awesome and never to be taken for granted.

Just like King Balak there are still some people today, who in order to beat down those who are stronger than them, indulge in various concealed evil practices. Whenever the Lord prohibits something in our lives, it is wise for us to obey and let go of it.

Balaam did not give up

We read in Numbers 22:13, “In the morning Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for the Lord will not let me go with you.” (ERV)

Also in Numbers 22:20, “And that night God came to Balaam and said to him, If these men have come for you, go with them: but do only what I say to you.” (ERV)

As Balaam persisted with God that He should be granted permission to go along with the men to Balak, the Lord gave in and allowed him to go to the king of Moab. However, the Lord cautioned Balaam that he was to only say those things that He asked him to say. Balaam was so enticed by the king’s offer that he forgot the fact that nothing that any earthly king offered would suffice when compared to the blessings that came from God above.

God’s anger was roused against Balaam

We read in Numbers 22:22, “And God's anger was kindled because he went.” (AFV)

Though God let Balaam go ahead with his own plan, the Lord was indignant with Him for doing so.

There are Christian young people who when it comes to making a choice of their life-partner, choose an unbeliever. They plead with God to let them marry that person. Often the Lord will counsel them in various ways, but when they keep on persisting the Lord will not hinder them from having what they ask for. They will invariably have to face the consequences of their decisions, and every so often end up living with regret.

The donkey saw what Balaam did not

As Balaam continued on the path of rebellion against God, this is what happened.

We read in Numbers 22:25, “And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.” (AFV)

Balaam proceeded towards his destination on a donkey, and the angel of the Lord appeared to stop him, and sadly only the donkey recognized the angel. As the donkey walked down a narrow path with a wall on either side, the angel of the Lord appeared before them with a drawn sword in his hand. In fear and alarm the donkey pushed itself into the wall and thereby crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall.