Unlikely Messengers

Numbers 22:21–35 NIV

21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 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. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 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. 26 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. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 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?” 29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. 31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” 34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” 35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

Numbers 22:21-

1. What message is your life sending?

Your life is speaking a message

Don’t give in to peer pressure

Don’t sell yourself for recognition

Who has your attention?

2. Listen to God before the donkeys talk

It is better to listen to God than to our desires

It is better to listen to God than to our friends

It is better to listen to God than to our needs

If you don’t listen to God the donkeys will start talking

3. Listen to the unlikely messengers

Are you listening to God’s messengers?

Your struggles

Your illness

Donkeys

Enemies

God allows giants in your life to bring something out of you

There is a giant killer in you

There is a King in you

There is a worshipper in you

This is only a test

4. The time is now

There is a message in your mess

There is a victory in your struggle

There is a miracle in your pain

5. Speak only what God wants

Balaam was sending that wrong message by hanging out with the wrong crowd

You can’t curse what God blesses

Tell the enemy, “you can’t touch this”

I’ve got the victory

He has good plans for me