Ambition+ Pride=Anger

Masks We Wear  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Pride causes us to have anger which limits our ability to see God.

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Who is Balaam? Diviner, soothsayer (someone who practices divination. Divination: foresee, foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by interpretations of omens or by aid of supernatural powers.). Son of Beor of Pethro, called by Balak to curse Israel, and was subject to God’s commands.

Pride brings forth God’s Anger:22

We have in verse 22 a conundrum, God told Balaam to go in verse 20 and now God’s is angry because he is going?
We must understand “because” which most translations have comes from the Hebrew particle ‘ki’ as temporal, hence “while he was going” God became angry with him. Not because Balaam went did God became angry but while he was going did God’s anger start to burn against him.
CSB translates it this way: “God was incensed that Balaam was going....”
What happen for God to get angry at Balaam?
Balaam’s quick acquiescence here indicates Balaam’s personal rebelliousness in embracing the idea that he might eventually be successful in pronouncing a curse on Israel and win some treasures for self in the process.
2 Peter 2:15 NASB95
forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2 Peter 2:15–16 NASB95
forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

Therefore, our anger stems from our prideful nature.

Proverbs 16:18 CSB
Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Balaam’s prideful rebellious state prevented him from seeing God’s emissary.

Ambition will Blind You!! 23-27

One track minds are like blinders on a race horse, it stops you from seeing the entire picture.

A female donkey, presumably the epitome of stupidity and stubbornness in that day, was more spiritually perceptive than this renowned prophet!
She turned to avoid the angel with the sword and Balaam hits her. His ambition is starting to dictate his emotions.
A female donkey, presumably the epitome of stupidity and stubbornness in that day, was more spiritually perceptive than this renowned prophet!
Have you ever was driven so much that you did not see clearly? Maybe your own ambitions became the focal point of your life and you started to abuse those who could see what you were missing?
The roads that lead through vineyards and fields were narrow that to be able to maneuver a beast through them you had to use care and caution.
She turned to avoid the angel with the sword and Balaam hits her. His ambition is starting to dictate his emotions.
Have you ever been driven so much that you could not see clearly? Maybe your own ambitions became the focal point of your life and you started to abuse those who could see what you were missing?
The donkey sees the angel of the Lord again and squeezes Balaam’s foot against the stone wall. He hits her again.
The roads that lead through vineyards and fields were narrow that to be able to maneuver a beast through them you had to use care and caution.
The donkey sees the angel of the Lord again and squeezes Balaam’s foot against the stone wall. He hits her again.

Ambition will make you oblivious to the warning signs around you and those who are trying to protect you.

Third time the Donkey sees the angel of the Lord and Balaam does not. The donkey once again tries to protect Balaam and his anger caused him to beat the donkey with his stick.
Three times Balaam strikes his donkey.

When anger arise, it leads us to stop thinking rational and start thinking irrational. We stop focusing outward and start focusing inward.

Anger Controls Your Desires: 28-30

Not only was the female donkey more observant spiritually, that her normally unintelligible mouth was open so that Balaam could understand her.
First, are you going to be fazed if a animal starts carrying on a conversation with you? I am!
First, are you going to be fazed if a animal starts carrying on a conversation with you? I am!
God will use people, animals, and circumstances to garner our attention.
God will use people, animals, and circumstances to garner our attention.
Balaam did not seem fazed with what is transpiring with his donkey.
Because of his pride which led him to anger over his donkey, Balaam was willing to kill the donkey.
Balaam did not seem fazed with what is transpiring with his donkey.
Instead of getting angry, Balaam should have paid attention to the behavior of the donkey.
Animals have a way of warning us of imminent danger. But if we do not pay attention we too can miss the warnings.
Because of his pride which led him to anger over his donkey, Balaam was willing to kill the donkey.
His pride was damaged in front of his young attendants and he responded like an infidel. Therefore, he could not see clearly and anger consumed him.
God will use people, animals, and circumstances to garner our attention.
Instead of getting angry, Balaam should have paid attention to the behavior of the donkey.
Animals have a way of warning us of imminent danger. But if we do not pay attention we too can miss the warnings.
His pride was damaged in front of his young attendants and he responded like an infidel. Therefore, he could not see clearly and anger consumed him.

Balaam finally sees: 31-35

In anger, pride, or ambition we cannot see clearly what lies ahead.
When we finally set this things aside is when our eyes will be opened.
God refutes the proud and exalts the humble!
Sometimes what seems like a hindrance is actually God’s protection.
But, if we are allowing our selfish motives, anger, or pride to blur our vision we won’t be able to see the blessings.
We need to repent of our sins against a Holy and Righteous God before we can ever move forward with His plans and the path He has us on!
We are to only speak what God tells us to speak, not what we want to speak.

Application:

Pride is the main ingredient of sin! It is the thing that will cause us to fall every time!
Ambition is the fruit of pride which has blinded men since the beginning of time. Satan’s ambition to be over God stemmed from his pride to be like God. Eve’s desire to be like God caused her ambition to eat the fruit!
Ambition is the fruit of pride which has blinded men since the beginning of time. Satan’s ambition to be over God stemmed from his pride to be like God. Eve’s desire to be like God caused her ambition to eat the fruit!
Anger is the by-product of Pride and Ambition. If you are getting angry at people you love, animals, and hindrances that you have no control over it might be time to check your inner self.
Anger is the by-product of Pride and Ambition. If you are getting angry at people you love, animals, and hinderances that you have no control over it might be time to check your inner self.
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