The Price of Taking The Wrong Road

Now the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. Numbers 22:23

A man died this weekend whose name I have heard frequently throughout much of my life. I'm not going to mention his name again because we have heard it too much already. The man is infamous for sending his followers to murder in case you need a further clue. In a way the all-too-frequent mention of this man reminds me of Balaam in the Bible, where we can read about him all the way from Numbers through the Revelation. Balaam's story begins with a man talking with God. Balaam should have become one of the great prophets of the Bible with this access to our Lord, but instead he had a high regard for money and material wealth.

When the servants of Balak came to get an answer about the question of cursing the Israelites, Balaam says, 'not even for a houseful of silver and gold...' And therein begins Balaam's problems. Where he should have let his no be no, he mentions a starting point in money negotiations. And from there on throughout the Bible, Balaam's name becomes one of bad example - don't be like Balaam. And such is his fame all the way down to Revelation chapter 2.

The most famous story about Balaam is of course his little chat with his talking donkey. Balaam began his ministry with such advantages: a prophet of the Lord being the foremost, but having a donkey wiser than himself was certainly nothing to take for granted. Then the donkey testifies to a lifetime of service and wonders why Balaam is so faithless in this one service. As it turns out, Balaam has no faith and only turns aside when he is shown the angel of the Lord.

And such is the world today. Faith is scoffed at, money is king, and only when they can see the Lord in His glory will they acknowledge Him. But when that time comes it will be too late, and they will pay the price for taking the wrong road in this life. Don't wait to see the Lord with his drawn sword, turn aside from your way now and believe in Him!

Bucky