The Prophet for Profit

Invite you now to join me in the scriptures will be continuing our series to the Book of Numbers will interrupt that next week for Allen to share Allen grilling will be sharing. His testimony is call and opening the word with us a week from today. And then after that we're in the Palm Sunday and Easter, so will I be taking a break for a few weeks from The Book of Numbers in Numbers 22 this morning?

You know, it didn't take very long after I graduated Seminary become a pastor to realize I didn't get everything I needed from Seminary. It's what some people call the year the amateur, you know, it was you kind of make mistakes and you try to figure things out and you kind of learn to the School of Hard Knocks some things that they couldn't quite imparts you in a classroom has the young Pastor is hungry for answers and looking for help. And what are the big influences in my life, right then both personally and professionally was guy I'll just say his name is Jim. I won't say his last name, but he had graduated a few years before me from Dallas Seminary Godly guy good guy. As far as I could tell it was a successful Church planter was in demand as a speaker and a mentor and really help me with some critical areas two years ago. I decided to see what's going on with Jim cuz I hadn't had any contact or heard from him for years and I thought I'm just curious. So I Googled him and I got quite a shock. Jim was no longer in Christian Ministry. In fact, he kind of migrated over to to being a business consultant and not that there's Did wrong being a business consultant but I thought why does a guy that had such an effective service for the Lord not make that kind of transition and that got a bigger shock cuz I looked into it and found that he still was occasionally preaching but he was preaching in a Buddhist Gathering and I could not understand that. It's like how do you go from being a student of the word properly trained in the scriptures and theology? How do you migrate from Matt to basically secular humanism and that's exactly where you ended up trouble may no longer sharing the gospel, but human wisdom no longer sharing people's need for Christ and bringing people to faith in the Lord moving from that. I just didn't understand it. It troubles me deeply. I wonder if you had a similar experience where somebody who at some point in your life helped influence you and bless you as a servant of God, or at least you thought only to later have them Wander from the faith. It happens all too often and it's very disheartening to see that it it makes us wonder. Where is this man? Jim was a mentor in my life for a few years during a very critical. Now the only way he meant as meat as has a cautionary tale now, I just look at him and say God help me to finish well and not fail like this man did like scripture says take heed lest thinking you stand you fall. But today is passage tells us that this is not a new problem people that are purported to be Servants of God and you don't work out that way. Don't finish that way. We're going to learn about a man called Balaam. In fact over the next four chapters in The Book of Numbers 22 through 24 and actually been 25 touches on it. It's been called by some people the book of Balaam because it's a series of episodes devoted to this man Balaam and his interaction with the children of Israel as they finish their Exodus Journeys. So this morning we're going to introduce that from today's passage where we see this book of Balaam introducing This guy who like my mentor Jim starts. Well, but does not finish. Well, in fact, it becomes clear by the end that he's simply a profit for profit. So join me in chapter 22 and let me give you the background the people have been on their Exodus for about 40 years. And now finally they're camped out as we will read this chapter. They arrived on the East Bank of the Jordan are poised. They are staging to invade the promised land At Last At Last there looking right across the river at Jericho. It's got to be an exciting moment. They will actually be there for months before they cross the Jordan and begin The Invasion property. In fact the rest of the book of numbers from here to the end all takes place in the same camping site on the East Bank of the Jordan what is called The Plains of Moab so that will finish this book. In fact Deuteronomy is also given at this very same site where they evidently spent a number of months but not everybody is ready to welcome into the neighborhood as we find out in chapter 22, some people weren't very nice. Early when Israel began to come to the scene chapter 22 verse 1 then the children Israel moved and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now they lack the son of zipporah saw all that is really done to the amorites and more was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many and more. I was sick with Dread because of the children of Israel somos. I've said that the Elders of Midian now this company will look up everything around us like an ox mix up the grass of the field and balak. The son of Zipper was King of the moabites at that time. Then he sent Messengers to Balaam the son of beor at P for which is near the river that would be the river Euphrates and the land of the sons of his people to call him saying look at people has come from Egypt see they cover the face of the Earth in our settling next to me there for please come at once curse this people for me for they are too Mighty for me perhaps I should be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land for I know that he whom you bless. Is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed for 7. So the others have Moab and the Elders of Midian departed with the diviners fee and their hand and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of balak and he said to them lunch here tonight and I will bring back word to you as to where it speaks to me. So the princes at Moab stayed with Balaam then God came to Balaam and said, who are these men with you? So balum said to God balak the son of zipporah King of Moab has sent to me saying look at people as come up out of Egypt and they cover the face of the Earth come now curse them for me, perhaps I should be able to overpower them and drive them out and God said to Balaam you shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people for they are blessed. So balum Rose in the morning and said that the princess of balak go back to your land for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you and the princes of Moab Rose and went to Bei lacan said Balaam refuses to come with us verse 15 then Bale accent. Again, princess more numerous and more honorable than they and they came to Balaam and said to him that says Bay like the son of zipporah. Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me or I will certainly honor you greatly and I will do whatever you say to me there for please come curse this people for me then Balaam answered and said to the Servants of a lack do Bay like where to give me his house full of silver and gold I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more now therefore, please you also stay here tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me and God came to bail them at night and said to him if the men come to call you rise and go with them, but only the word which I speak to you that you shall do so balum Rose in the morning saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. May God bless the reading of his word from this introduction to the strange and confusing character Balaam this man who seemed to be a servant of God or not. We're going to learn to cautions this morning two questions regarding spiritual truth because this man Balaam was a dealer in spiritual truth and yet somehow didn't mean to touch him. Just the first of two cautions that destroy presents to his caution number 1. Traffic an unlived truth Balaam is a picture. He's an example of trafficking handling dispensing unlived truth. Now Israel comes to this place enjoying a string of Victories over Canaanites Scion and dog the kings that they overcame and God is Not only giving is real victories in their path. But he's also doing psychological warfare spiritual warfare if you will because all the people that live in Canaan know the story this guy the king of Moab Bay, like he knew all the history that guy that brought them out of Egypt and was defeated. Enemies left and right and so here you have an example of people being in fear What's Happening Now throughout the campaign of The Exodus and come bring the promised land. You'll see that the people knew what God was doing. They heard the glory of God some like Rahab the Harlot who lived in Jericho heard this and repented and believed in the Lord and identified with him, but most did not most responded in the opposite way and hardened their hearts. Like they like the king of Moab. It's not the same thing that happens today, by the way, when God reveals himself some people soften their hearts and draw near to him while others Harden their hearts and push him away and you see both reactions to the stay human nature and response to God's presence have not really changed. So by the way, there's an irony here is real had been directed to bypass Moab. In fact by the time they get the chapter 2, they've added extra miles one of their detour at got directions to go around. UC moabites were not Canaanites. They were not on the evict list from Canaan. They were people that lived outside and got it told them not to battle them or not to attack them. So they didn't and the irony is that they lack if he understood this if he just have been gracious. He would have had to go pick that fight and yet he picked that fight and certainly the Hebrews had a right to defend themselves. So King balak recognizes that Israel can't be beat in battle. He doesn't trust them he decides to oppose them. So he hires a spiritual gun named Balaam Bailon was from out of town how far out of town how far out of town. You asked 400 miles. Here's where this guy Balaam came from there down in Moab. Just east of the Dead Sea in that area and here they send a delegation all the way 400 miles across the desert Crossing Wilderness to fetch this guy. Well that tells us that Baylor Reputation. I mean word gets around four hundred miles and primitive ancient times and everybody knows this guy's name and reputation that says something about balaam's Fame It also says something about balax determination that he needs to hire some talent to come in and help him with his problem with his neighbors. So they send us delegation of dignitaries and a lot of money well to try to buy his help they like send a delegation to buy the services by the way, just to interesting historical footnote in 1967. There was an archaeological dig in the same area The Plains of Moab and they found the remains of a of a document put into plaster evidently was in a wall of a shrine of some sort and while it was partially gone and only partially recovered they could read fragments of the inscription. Let me read one in English not in Arabic. Balaam son of beor received a message from the gods in a night visitation that phrase that fragment was recorded is not fascinated. Here's a historical documentation evidence of exactly what scripture talks about that. This guy was known in history as well as from the pages of the Bible. Now if we only saw Balaam as he's presented in these chapters, we might have an uncertain opinion about him, but we'll come to see that. There's more has a scripture in foals Balaam is a major figure in the Bible. He becomes a major figure in numbers. He's mentioned later by Joshua. He's mentioned later by Nehemiah is mentioned by Micah. The prophet is mentioned by New Testament writers like Peter and Jude and John he is a major Bible example, but he's a very controversial and confuse a guy talk about a mysterious person. Let me share with you just some of the ideas or observations about this confusing hard to understand character. Here's the first DS As we said a profit for profit, he's a Hired Gun. He's a mercenary if we only read chapter 22, 23 24 where you make some prophecies and blessings on Israel. We think he's a good guy. In fact one commentator at Rib tried to argue that he really is a good guy. He's just been misunderstood. I would be tempted to go along with that if I only had chapters 22 through 24, but then comes chapter 25 which scripture tells us that Balaam after these events. We read about came back and advised they lack on how to fix the people how to lead the people of Israel into into idolatry and sexual sin and it work going to cause much problem for them bail and becomes a bad guy in the end. He becomes a Hired Gun according to numbers 31. He later gave that Council that frustrated and caused his real to stumble numbers 31 also tells us that Baylen was eventually killed along with the kings of MIT. So at some point he decided to switch sides if you will and Ally himself with the enemies of God for higher because they paid better pretty tragic outcome. He wasn't the end of Hired Gun a profit for profits. In fact, that's how the New Testament remembers him 2nd. Peter 2:15 says he loved the wages of unrighteousness. Why did he do it? Not necessarily believing in it. Just he'd like the paycheck you like the payday that came with it dude speaks about false teachers and warns that they have run greedily in the error of Balaam for-profit. They're motivated by money or by income if you are troubled that a man can be a spokesperson for God and yet the ungodly you're not alone. If we read ahead two chapters 23-24 you see that he makes Incredible prophecies. In fact in one of his prophecies where the spirit of the Lord comes upon Balaam and speaks even speaks of the coming Christ. She speaks some incredible Prophecies of blessing on Israel and judgment on their enemies and the coming savior amazing prophecies. He is truly a standing with the prophets of the Old Testament in the sense of what he says and yet here is a man who is ungodly Godly and ends poorly being judged by God. How can that be? Well, let me suggest something that might help Prophecy in the Bible is seen more as saying something about The God Who inspires it then the person who gives it necessarily remember that God has used prophets that were always so great as they ought to men think of Jonah Jonah comes to mind, you know, the man who was such a reluctant Prophet. Here's one who's even far worse than Jonah. He never seems to get the point. Prophecy in the Bible is often seen more as a sign of inspiration from God saying something about God rather than the vessel. He uses member saw the king who was such a wayward back and forth servant. He prophesied cases prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. We don't think he believed in Jesus and yet he could say it's fitting that one should die for the nation unwittingly. He gave a prophecy book of Acts tells us that Jewish Exorcist if you will wear casting out demons and doing works and yet they didn't really believe in Jesus. So is confusing and troubling as it is people can somehow sometimes be vessels of God's message without being true Servants of God. But if you know the rest of the story and you know that there is a donkey speaking before we get to the end that really makes us understand that it's really all about God not the best so that he chooses to use if he can use the donkey. I guess you could use you and me could be we're nothing special in that regard. Let's look at another fact about Balin Balin is a profit for profit. Secondly. He claimed to honor God but put his own interests first. He always put himself above other things. He was driven by greed at the New Testament explains. He was gifted at fooling people look at chapter 22 and verse 18th. I want to show you when the delegation comes back with more money. You see they came the first time and Balaam heard God speak in so he turn them down. So balak is not a man to take no for an answer. So he figures I'll send some high-ranking dignitaries more official and more money but bailiwicks idea is basically everybody has a price I obviously didn't meet your price. Let me send more money more dignitaries and maybe you'll agree. Look at what happens when they come to bail on the second time Verse 18 Balaam answer instead of the Servants of a like the bay like where to give me this house or his house full of silver and gold. I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more. That sounds very good. Doesn't it? Does that sound like a very good spiritual even pastoral response, please nod your head Yes sounds really good. But that didn't notice even says the Lord my God. And by the way, when it says Lord with all capitals. Elordi Capital, that means that the actual where there is Yahweh or Jehovah as some pronounce it in other words. He knows the Lord's personal name. He's not just talking about a generic God or Gods plural. He's talking about the true Lord the Lord my God sounds pretty good. But then look at what happens next verse 19. Now therefore please also stay here tonight that I may know. What more the Lord will say to me now. Wait a minute then we read earlier where the first visit the Lord said who are these men don't go with them don't curse is real because they are blessed by me. I think God was pretty clear. Don't you? I think it was pretty black and white he made a very obvious to the most casual Observer. So why in the world is balak coming back and say well, let me ask again and see what happens this time. I think the fact is that he was greedy. He was coveting and Desiring the treasure and so he becomes really like like that child that asked his parents for something in the parents say no then the child keeps pestering hoping for a different answer. No not offset kids like that, right? Well, that's what Balaam is like he keeps pressing hoping for some different outcome or guidance from God because he's really into the money that stands at the end of this past an amazing story. What we understand here is that this man is is is motivated in the wrong thing. He's not trying to honor God. He's trying to honor his own self-interest. He claimed want to honor God and yet he really wants to please his customers and less pleased himself as Jesus would say no man can serve two masters Bailon was trying to serve to make sure another Factor about this guy Palin received God's word yet resisted it Balaam in the coming passages will preach great prophetic statements by the spirit of God. There's no question. God spoke through this strange man Balaam no question. And God blessed is real through Balaam of all things and yet despite the clear guidance from God that Israel is under the protection Bailon would later come back and give counsel to the enemy. It is Ron how to cause them harm. So he wanted to have it both ways. You see Balaam is a man who received the word even gave the word and yet resisted. It selectively that leads to this bail and both blessed and cursed God's people the four oracles were prophetic utterances in the next chapters are clearly God's message for the people. These are rich prophecies even speaking of the coming Christ and yet the same man who so eloquently wonderfully spoke God's truth would later become the cause of their sin and stumbling into idolatry. He wanted to be a friend of the Lord's people but also a friend of the Lord's enemies. He is a man of contradictions. He is double-minded hard to understand look at verse 34 chapter 22 after he has the incident with the talking donkey which will get to shortly look at what happens after he realizes that the Angels resisting him verse 34 Balaam said that the end What the Lord I have sent for I did not know you stood in the way against me now. Therefore if it displeases you I will turn back. I want to show you another curious thing about this curious man noticed that he confessed sin, but did not repent he confessed I have sinned and you know, when he said that he said that when he saw this Angel waving a sword and standing ready to kill him how many people would feel like confessing if you saw an angel ready to tell you I think we'd all have that change of heart all of a sudden and be kind of contrite about it and yet he uses an interesting word. He says send that sent there several words that are translated send in the Old Testament. This is the word that means a wrong or a mistake. In other words. There are other words that mean more about heart conviction more of a moral response. That's not the word used here. It's sort of like, oh my bad. You don't really want me to go, okay. I'll back off on that and that's kind of a sense of this incident. So it seems he did not repent know it's hard to know when somebody really repents. Isn't it? Isn't it hard to know when we repent isn't it hard to understand our own hearts and yet repentance is not just a change of our thinking it's a change of our actions and that's what you do not see with this man called Balaam Balaam did not repent because he comes back later and leads the people of God to stumble into cine helps their enemies. So if you want to know where Balaam is at his repentance don't look at his words. Look at his works and isn't the same for you and me today. You want to know if we're repentant listen to our words, but then look for The Works bring forth fruit worthy of repentance John the Baptist told people there should be action to show repentant Hearts Bale. I'm never quite got that far. Here's the caution for us from this man called Balaam don't traffic and unlived Truth like Balaam. We two can speak truth. We can memorize it. We can quote it. We can tell it to others and yet somehow we can be like Teflon it never quite patches and never quite sticks to us. We just try to shove it off onto someone else. Listen. We are church that focuses a lot on God and His word. We we spend a lot of time and effort trying to understand God's word and apply it but there's a danger with that as good as that is there's a danger that we can treat the Bible like information just more data. We can just fill our notebooks fill our minds with this information. And that's only half of what needs to happen. We need to understand the counsel of God, but we need to not only learn that we need to live it. We need to live it. The danger that Bailon face is a danger you and I faced weekend traffic and unlived true information data as though the Bible the book of trivia that we just want to understand. Balaam seem to have that approach. May God help us not to have that approach there has to be something more. You know what I think about Balaam I had to reflect on my own life and say when's the last time I read something that changed me. Once last time I read or learn something in Scripture that changed my attitude about something or changed how I speak about something or someone or changed how I pray? We're how I practice my life that should happen on a regular basis. Amen, but they're guided the word of God should be changing as conforming us to His Image. It should be making a difference on a regular basis that should be happening because God is determined that we as Christians are being conformed daily to the image of Christ making us look less like who we are and more like Jesus is son. He does that through his word as we learn it and as we live it, that's the message of Balaam a cautionary tale. Don't just be traffickers handlers a Bible information. But let it transform you let it transform and change you there's a second question that we want to learn from this man called Balaam not only the danger of trafficking and unlived truth. But similar one about spiritual truth. We said that the New Testament highlights Balaam as a man who is greedy and Covetous. And in fact in the story that follows you going to see that Balaam didn't even see here. He is the prophet the famous high-power high high dollar profit and yet he can't even see that. He's about to be killed by an Angel. Let's read that account. Join me in chapter 22 verse 20, it starts with the second visit of the delegation first 20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him if the men come to call you rise and go with them, but only the word which I speak to you that you should do so balum Bros in the morning saddle this donkey and went with the princes of Moab verse 22, then God's anger was aroused because he went and the angel of the Lord took it stand in the way as an adversary against him. Riding on His donkey and his two servants were with him. 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 balum truck the donkey to turn it back on to the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in the narrow path between The Vineyards with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed yourself against the wall and crushed balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Then the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left and when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she laid down under Balaam. So Billings anger was aroused when he struck the donkey with his staff then the Lord open the mouth of the donkey and she said the bay on what have I done to you that you've struck me these three times. Is that an amazing story or what that is a bizarre conversation never be repeated. As far as I can gather. We'll get back to that in a minute. But let's Trace what's going on here? Because this car wash in the second caution. I'm going to summarize this way just as it says don't traffic and only truth. Here's another take away from Balaam. Don't be blinded by coveting. Here's the supposedly spiritual seer of all things and it can't even see he's about to be killed by an Angel because of his Disobedience amazing stunning Labs even is donkey sees what he cannot see Peter said that the way of Balaam was coveting and it kept them from seeing the danger. He saw the donkey saw it. They have missed it. This is a curious interaction going back to the second visit. The second delegation comes from Moab. That's 400 miles. So traveling by be square by foot. It would have taken 3 to 4 weeks probably so 3 to 4 weeks Journey for each of these delegations to I'm up to do the town where where Balaam lives and get back. So this is taking some months time that's lapsing during this account. So another delegation comes and Balaam receives them and then seems to be holding out now it when they came and asked the second time he did okay with Verse 18 when it said I can only do what the Lord says he didn't do so well in verse 19 when he said please stay here tonight that I may know. What more the Lord will say to me. Again Balaam seems like a guy who doesn't want to take no for an answer. He keeps looking for some way to fenestra massage God's guidance so he can get the money he wants to pay day. He's a prophet for profit and he doesn't really care about the morality of the situation. He is hoping God will change his mind and give him what he wants. So here's a question if you noticed and verse 20, God says if the men come to call you rise and go with them. Denver's 22 after he goes God's anger aroused because he went so which is it is it that he was supposed to go or is it that he was not supposed to go? Which do you think this race is a question of obedience was was Balaam really a good guy who maybe didn't have the best judgment. Is he a good guy or is he really a bad guy? What's going on with Balaam y came across two different explanations as I studied this this past week one explanation is that if you translate it a legitimate translation is that God got angry as he went member. This is a three or four weeks journey to some have had suggested that what happens is the closer he gets to the land where he's going to curse these people or not. The closer it gets to where Israel is the more he is coveting and perhaps doing other things that aren't spelled out in scripture. So he does something in route that that triggers God's anger at him. So that's one explanation that could be the case notice in one of the Inns. Benson says that they were passing between Vineyards. That means it either happened at the back end of the journey or the front end of the journey because there's a lot of sparse land in between most likely it seems this happened as he's on the home stretch almost to the point where he's going to contact Daniel up a lack in Israel. So it seems that that's a reasonable explanation. There's another explanation. The Lord is angry because Balaam is more interested in pleasing beyliks men than in pleasing god notice back in verse 9 at the first appearance when Balaam goes to talk to God about these visitors. Did you hear what the word said? Who are these men not why is Lord asked that doesn't the Lord know everything doesn't already know exactly who these men are not your head. Yes. Absolutely. He knows who these men are not ask questions of people. It's not because he needs information. He has all the information it's because he wants the person he's asking to think about what is that hand prints this back in Genesis 3 The people send the man and wife send in the garden and God comes down and says, where are you? It's not that God can't locate them. It said he wants him to think about why do we feel guilt and shame all of a sudden? What why is everything wrong of a sudden he wants him to think about it to contemplate and that I believe is what's going on here. Who are these men as if to say, what is the authority that you're looking at? Who are you really serving? Who is your master? Is it the money that you hope to gain or is it the true God of all the universe and back later? When these guys come back a second time. You know, he he kind of makes it sound dignified and spiritual. Let me consult with the Lord my God. Let me consult with Lord my God, it is like excuse me Balaam what part of don't go with them don't curse is real what part of that didn't you understand it pretty clear the first time around but they seem to be more interest in these men. And that's why I think the Lord says these men he's calling attention to who's your Authority? Who are you trying to please hear that you seem to have your heart set on this this gain and on these people these new friends of yours. So that could be the case. I lean toward that second option gave him again being like the kid who doesn't get the answer he wants from his parents. So he keeps pestering and hopes up wearing them down. What follows is one of the most bizarre conversations in the Bible. I would agree when you most bizarre conversations. Let's pick it up first 29 Balaam set of the donkey. I've done this because you abused me. I wish there were sword in my hand for now it kill you. So the donkey said to Balaam am I not your donkey on which you've written ever since I became yours to this day was I ever Supposed to do this to you and he said no then the Lord open balaam's eyes and he saw the angel Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his head and he had his head and fell flat on his face. What an amazing encounter an amazing experience. I read about this talking donkey. I think we'll pay whatever you like the Donkey in Shrek. What was that going to be? Like what's going to look like? What's a good sound like really know the other people hear it? We don't know. It's a miracle who and how it happened. We can explain the details just that it happened. You know, it's almost more surprising to me. Even the fact that the donkey speaks is that Balaam seems to act like it's a normal conversation in ancient Mesopotamia read that people that were Sears and mistakes and saucers would read into strange X by animals as Omens from the gods. So here I can't risk I should have figured out. This is not your everyday experience. That's something you don't see everyday what in the world is going on and yet it seems like Balaam is in the dark. He's blind because always thinking about is the money he can get for providing his services to this King. It's an amazing story. There's a lot of parallels here to Bayland is pushing his donkey to go where he's not supposed to go just like balak is pushing Balaam to go where he's not supposed to go. The donkey is caught three times between Balaam and death and so will baling be caught three times between Gaelic and God clear parallels. It's a Curious Thing donkeys are famous for stubbornness. So it's fitting that they would not cooperate just like they own did not cooperate. It's as if God is saying you won't listen to me because you're so blinded by greed maybe a listen to someone who's closer to level like a stubborn don't you like maybe I'll give you a reason with you. There's a lot of interesting meaning in this incident. So what does that mean for you and me today? What does it mean the donkey? Let me try to suggest a few ways. I think the dark he has a message for us. First of all, it reminds us at Masters expect obedience Masters expect to be Giants. There was reasonable for Balaam to expect his beast of burden to do what he told it just like it was reasonable for a person who says he is my God to do with that. God says and Balaam clearly was not doing that the donkey did not obey his master Balaam and Balaam did not obey his master the Lord he had his own agenda. Balaam wasn't just being saved by this donkey. He was getting an object lesson from this donkey. The problem is the donkey was much more spiritually astute than Balaam was the talk. He was getting the message when bailing was totally spacing it out. Totally oblivious just blinded to the truth that was in front of them. And the danger that was in front of him. Make sure it's something else can speak through anyone. Amen. God can speak to anyone. He doesn't really need us just really need me doesn't need you. He can speak to anyone in any situation. God has his way of getting the message and we can flatter ourselves thinking we're more important than we really are. God has his ways of getting the message out next time you're tempted to take pride and speaking for God remember he could have chosen a donkey for that purpose. Trader Joe's in the donkey years ago. I had a had an album by guy named Don Francisco and old Christian musician and he had a line about this and he said if God starts using you don't you pay it any mind he could use the dog next door if he'd been so inclined and that's the truth doesn't really need us condescends to use us to include us in his program. Praise God. He gives us a great privilege, but he doesn't really fat need us he can do it without us. He could do it with a donkey of all things as stubborn animal not considered all that bright and head guy can do that. Look at verses 31 and following. Let's summarize today's passage and conclusion first 31 then Lord open balaam's eyes and he saw the angel Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face and the angel of the Lord said to him. Why have you struck your donkey these three times behold? I stand against you because your way is perverse were evil before me the Donkey song Me and turned aside from me these three times if she had not turned aside for me sure. They would have killed you by now and let her live. I want to show you a last Factor about this. Here's another message the donkey has for us the donkey also reminds us of this that God must open her eyes to see truth. God must open her eyes. It's not up to us being smart or good students are having a good work ethic. It's God who has to reveal. He's got to open her eyes. If you're seeing truth. It's because God has graciously revealing that Truth by opening your eyes to see it. It's reminiscent. The passage in Luke chapter 24 were the two disciples after the crucifixion are leaving town. They're on the road to Emmaus and their discourage that are understand why Jesus who had so much promise with killed in a brutal way and it left them just devastated and then Jesus not letting them know it was him. He concealed his appearance. Jesus comes and walks alongside and says he reason from the scriptures and then he open their eyes and then they realized it was the Lord they got to see through has directed Lord. What a blessing he opened their on ice and you know, the same thing has to happen for us. If you know Jesus as the Savior it's because he opened your eyes to see it if you know truth spiritual truth, if you look at the Bible and God speaks to us because God opens your eyes open your ears, so you can understand it. Years ago when I was a college student, I became a Christian and when I was home visiting my parents from from college, I would go to a local church and I got to know the pastor and one time I had been there for about 3 months and I came back. I saw Pastor said hey Pastor, how you doing? He said she said, how are you doing? I said while growing in the Lord and I'm learning and I'm trying to walk with with Christ. He said that's good. They said just remember if you're alerted some it's not cuz you're smart. Thank you Pastor. It's because God is revealing it to you. And he's right. It's not a matter of intelligence. It's not a matter of diligent study. All those things help. It's really God revealing truth. He puts the cookies on the bottom shelf. So to speak he reveals truth that we could not otherwise comprehend his Spirit illuminate scripture. It's like we're in darkness in God shines light so we can see and comprehend be remiss that because he was blinded by his own selfish. That's his desire. His coveting. Is that Dollar Tree for other things beware of coveting? It's a Dollar Tree in blinds as to the truth before our eyes Balaam reminds us in this opening scene these opening experiences really of two powerful cautions. He's a cautionary tale don't traffic an unlived truth and don't be blinded to that truth by covering by our own strong desires. Be careful guard your heart for out of it flow all the issues of life. That was the undoing of This Man Called Bailey. I want to share a Psalm that really is not only sound I think it's a prayer its request from God comes from the great Psalm 119 that great long chapter the Bible August chapter of the Bible and it's all about spiritual truth. It reminds us of this this wish open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from your law God. Could you could we could we ask him today. Could you show me wonderful things from your law? Could you open my eyes to see your truth? Could you open my eyes to see Jesus who died for my sins? Could you open my eyes to see Jesus dead and buried could you open my eyes to see Jesus raised from the dead and alive today? Can you open my eyes to see he's coming back? He's coming back visibly powerfully is king of kings and Lord of lords to rule this world. Can you open my eyes Lord to see this and believe this? God opens eyes it's his grace that he shows us his truth. He doesn't hide it from us if we seek we will find trust God look to him to open your eyes Scott open her eyes. We pray today to see your truth got soften our hearts that we be not only hearers of the word deceiving ourselves. But doers also God help us to see the truth of Christ who died for our sins and rose again from the dead and proud that there's someone here in these words either here in person this morning or watching from home or on the road father. Would you open their eyes that they may see Christ crucified buried and risen again and believing in him have life. For whosoever calls in the name of the Lord shall be saved Lord. Will you show us Christ? Show us your son show us your love is you've measured it through the gift of your son father. Show us your word may we be not just hearers of the word not just gathers a Bible information, but may have transform us as you intended to do may we not follow in the air the way of Balaam who had his own agenda who's a confusing character but he did not finish. Well, may we finish well toward may we finish what we began? May we follow hard after you not being deterred or distracted by the cares of this life by the riches that it promises but looking for that Eternal reward help us father to finish while we pray this in Jesus name know God's people said