Numbers 22:31–40, May 14, 2025 (Wednesday)

"Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. So he bowed low and fell facedown." (Numbers 22:31)

Passage Summary

As Balaam was riding his donkey on the way to meet King Balak of Moab, the angel of the Lord stood in his path with a drawn sword. However, Balaam was unaware of the angel’s presence. His donkey, on the other hand, saw the angel and turned aside or stopped three times. Eventually, God opened Balaam’s eyes so that he too could see the angel. Overwhelmed with fear, he fell to the ground.

The angel rebuked Balaam for beating the donkey and revealed that the path Balaam was taking was perverse in God's sight. Balaam confessed his wrongdoing and offered to turn back, but God allowed him to continue, instructing him to speak only the words God would give him. The passage concludes with Balaam arriving in Moab, where King Balak warmly welcomes him.

Meditation: When God Speaks Through Stopping

There are moments in life when our journey suddenly comes to a halt. In such times, we often grumble and blame others or our circumstances. Rarely do we naturally ask, “Could it be that God is the one stopping me?”

Balaam is a fascinating figure. He appears to know God’s will, yet in reality, his heart is more drawn to reward and recognition than to obedience.

The core message of this passage lies in the donkey’s repeated refusal to proceed—three times it stops, symbolizing God's disapproval of Balaam’s direction. But Balaam fails to see the divine warning and, instead, strikes the very creature trying to protect him.

Sometimes God speaks in ways we don't expect—through the voices of the lowly, through strange circumstances, and even through our delays and detours. Though we often talk about “God’s will,” discerning it in the midst of everyday life is not so easy.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could clearly label every decision: “This is God’s will,” and “This is human desire”? But in reality, God’s will often unfolds through deep questioning, careful discernment, and patience.

Today’s passage asks us this:“Whose voice are you listening to? Are you ignoring the one who has halted your path?”

Take a moment today to pause and listen for God's voice. Faith is not only about the strength to move forward—it’s also about the courage to stop and look back.

Intercessory Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the preparation of our upcoming youth retreat. Many helping hands and co-laborers are needed.

• Today is Wednesday Bible Study. Join us at 10 AM or 7 PM!

• A podcast review of last week’s sermon is now available. It was created by AI, and it turned out quite nicely—give it a listen!

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