By: Sister Tarpley, NDG Religion Editor
“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” (Numbers 22:27-31).
Have you ever wanted something so badly that your perception of the situation became distorted? We can force situations so much that we lose perspective.
The Israelites defeated all their enemies in the Promised Land. Balak, the king of Moab, feared that they would be defeated by the Israelites. Balaam was a prophet of the Lord in whom Balak knew had the power to bless or curse a nation. So, he sent a delegation to get Balaam to curse the nation of Israel.
Balaam wanted to do this for a nice fee that would come with his cooperation. However, God was not pleased. “But God said to Balaam, ‘Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed'” (Numbers 22:12).
Balaam was not being obedient to the Lord because he proceeded with his plan. And this was displeasing to the Lord. God sent an angel to stop him and would it not have been for his “talking donkey” he would have been killed by the angel.
In the workplace, Christians can become driven to achieve. Corporate pressure drives executives to make decisions that can impact many people. Christians become deceived by the need to succeed at any cost in our venture.
In order to achieve Godly success, we must be sensitive to those around us who can give input to the direction we may be taking. God will confirm His direction in our lives if we are willing to accept input from those around us.
It can come through a spouse, a co-worker, a boss, a secretary or any other person. Be aware of situations that encourage you to press too hard for a particular outcome.
Achieving goals should be a result of following the actions you believe God leads you to take. Let results become a fruit of your strategic actions.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence…Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You…O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart–These O, God, You will not despise” (Psalm. 51:10-17).
