The Path to Moab (Part I)

Today the Lord has given me a word for you all that derive from a story about a man by the name of Balaam. After GOD had sent Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt, they entered into the wilderness. During that time, they had militarily overcome several tribes in pursuit of “The Promised Land.” After hearing the stories of the mighty triumphs of the Israelites, fear had begun to manipulate the wills of the tribes that had yet to face the Israelites in battle. Such fear led Balak, King of Moab, to seek out Balaam. Balak figured that if he could get a prophet to curse the Israelites (i.e. set GOD against them), then he and his army would gain the upper hand in defeating the Israelites. Balak sent his messengers unto Balaam with a message: “A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.” Balaam requested that the messengers take shelter with him, and he will consult GOD on the matter. GOD came to Balaam in the night and told Balaam that such a curse would not be allowed because the Israelites were a blessed people. Balaam informed the messengers of GOD’s position and sent them back to Balak.

The news was unsatisfying to Balak and he sent further word to Balaam: “Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, I will reward you handsomely and do whatever it is you say.” Again Balaam offered the messengers shelter while he sought GOD’s consultation. GOD again spoke to Balaam saying, sense these men have come unto you again, go with them. But do only as I say. In the morning, Balaam set out on his donkey to Moab, accompanied by his two servants. This infuriated GOD. As Balaam traveled the path to Moab, an angel of the Lord stood in his path with a sword drawn. The donkey refused three times to continue along the path, and three times was the donkey beaten by Balaam before GOD gave the donkey a voice. GOD opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel. The angel assured Balaam that had the donkey not stopped along the path, he would have surely been killed.

Fellow brethren, we are often faced with decisions in life that we have no definitive answers to. When we seek GOD’s counsel in all things, our mistakes become nonexistent. Sometimes our decisions are heavily invested in our own interests instead of that of our Heavenly Father. That is, the desires for your own life may not be evenly aligned with those that GOD has prepared for us individually. As evidenced by the experiences of Balaam, when we allow our desires to be distorted and compromised by the spoils of the unrighteous, the ways in which we move about our path can no longer be sanctioned by The Most High’s authority. Our Father is gracious and merciful, but we cannot forget that he is also a just GOD. Often we wonder why or how we arrived at a place of solitude, depression, hopelessness, emptiness, and spiritual bankruptcy. Deep within, we know the answers to these questions. How many times have you been the Balaam in your life? How many times have you ignored and failed to adhere to the admonishment of the Lord our GOD? As the donkey spoke to Balaam, GOD allows our inner conviction to speak to us. The path of Moab, for the sake of this writing, is synonymous with the path to destruction. Balaam had been given explicit direction from GOD, but Balaam did not find gratification in GOD’s decision because of the lust embedded in his heart. This led to Balaam second-guessing a divine order of which GOD had already given.  That being said, I insistently implore all of my brethren, “Do not ignore the destructive path that an ass can see!”

My Prayer for you today:

“Heavenly Father, we are but man unto you. We seek your counsel and direction and pray that our desires align with yours. If we erroneously step off of your beaten path, we pray that your Holy Spirit will guide us back. We are humbled by your will for our lives and ask that you light our path, that we may avoid your wrath and destruction. We desire to be obedient to your commands and covered by your grace. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…”

This message is from the book of Numbers 22.

May this message be a blessing to you all…

By: C. D. McCloud