Numbers 22-24

There is so much about this story I love. I can just picture Balaam and his donkey traveling along. All Balaam sees is his donkey being stubborn so he beats the animal. Eventually, after the third beating, the donkey turns around and says something like… Stop! What have I ever done to you!

Now here’s what I love. Balaam answers the donkey as though it was the most natural thing in the world. That makes me smile.

But there’s more to the story. God had put a road block in front of Balaam. For whatever reason, Balaam didn’t see it. In fact, he went to drastic measures to stay on the road he had chosen. Once Balaam was able to see the angel and hear from God what he was supposed to do, he was able to go on his way.

We all have a road to travel. Sometimes we get a little off the mark and at those times God might put a road block before us. Road blocks can look like failed job opportunities or just that uneasy feeling that comes from drifting. It could be a word from a friend or an illness.

I don’t know what your road blocks look like but I pray you won’t overlook them. They are there for a reason. And paying attention to the road blocks can make our journey so much better.

Father, thank you for caring about our journey. May we be sensitive to the times you place road blocks before us and may we understand that they are there for our good.