SCRIPTURE:
“When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
Numbers 22:23-28
OBSERVATION:
At this point Balaam’s anger had reached a boiling point. He was offered a handsome reward in return for his services, but the Lord told him no and that he was not to do as Balak had asked him. Foolishly thinking that the Lord was now allowing him to go, his faithful donkey refuses and is beaten in return.
APPLICATION:
Anger will do that to us. It will blind us from being able to see the Lord in our midst and blind us from seeing the miracles happening right in front of our face, in this case a talking donkey.
When I was younger, I remember being on a trip and not getting what I asked for or getting to do what I wanted to do, and chose to stew in anger. Everyone around me was having a great time and instead of enjoying it like everyone else, I refused to. I had missed out on so much because I was upset.
As I got older and realized just how blessed I was to be able to go on those trips and have those experiences, I was overcome with profound thanksgiving. It’s what I’ve found to be the antidote to anger – an attitude of gratitude.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord when I have acted like Balaam when you have clearly told me no. Thank You Lord for giving us the power to choose. May I always choose an attitude of gratitude over stinking thinking, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
