You may know the story of Balak and Balaam. Balak is a Moabite king and Balaam a prophet whom Balak asks to curse Israel. God tells him not to curse the Israelites because they are blessed. Even after Balak offers him money; still he refuses. God tells Balaam to go with the Moabite officials, but, he says, "DO ONLY WHAT I TELL YOU." (verse 20) The message for me today that I want to share with you is, "Don't beat the donkey!"
God does not tell Balaam to "saddle his donkey and go." He tells him to go with the men and to "do only what I tell you." God tells him to go but he also says, "Do only what I tell you." Balaam saddles his donkey and goes, before seeking the Lord to find out what he wants him to do. So the angel of the Lord goes to stand in front of Balaam and Balaam's donkey.
Three times Balaam beats the donkey for not moving as it keeps turning away from the angel of the Lord who is standing in the way. Finally, the donkey speaks. As the donkey tries to reason with Balaam, Balaam finally realizes God is speaking through the donkey and confesses his sin.
"Go with the men but speak only what I tell you," the Lord says. So Balaam goes with Balak’s officials. We assume things will go better now.
Some of you may be old enough to remember Poncho, Cisco Kid's friend. He was always saying, "Let's went."
Better advise for us might be, "Let's not 'went.' Let's pray." Let's not just saddle the donkey and go.
Don't beat the donkey. Your circumstances may be opposing you for a reason. God may want you to seek him and to speak only what he tells you to speak (and do only what he tells you to do). Instead of getting up and saddling our donkey and going (through the motions, about our business, etc), let speak and do only what the Lord tells us to speak and do. And just a reminder for us all:
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:8 NIV)
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