Focal Passage: Numbers 22:22-35
In Milan, Tenn., two train tracks run straight across the main highway through town. Multiple times a day, trains stop there, blocking traffic for anywhere from a few minutes to nearly an hour. It can be frustrating to sit and wait, but I often wonder: What if God is protecting me from something on the other side? We may not know, but sometimes God blocks our path not to hinder us, but to protect us. That’s exactly what happens in Numbers 22.
Balaam was on his way to be part of an evil scheme against God’s people (vv. 15-21). Though he said the right words outwardly, his motives were corrupt. He was driven by reward rather than obedience. This is a reminder for us: God sees more than our words; He sees the motives of our hearts. What looks right on the outside can still be rebellion within.
So God intervened. He sent the angel of the Lord to block Balaam’s reckless path (vv. 22-27). Sometimes God opposes us not to harm us, but to save us.
Sinquefield
I once drove down a road and found a large sign: “Road Closed.” Frustrated, I had to turn back and find another way. Later I discovered the bridge was out — without the detour, disaster could have followed. God’s redirections are often blessings disguised as inconveniences. Balaam saw the angel as an obstacle, but in reality, it was God’s mercy preserving his life.
What happens next is one of the most surprising moments in Scripture: Balaam’s donkey begins to speak (vv. 28-30). The donkey’s voice revealed Balaam’s blindness and exposed his folly. God often uses unexpected means to get our attention.
Think of Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-4), Jonah swallowed by a great fish (Jonah 1:17), or Peter hearing the rooster’s crow (Luke 22:60-62). In the same way, God might use a job loss, a closed door, or even illness to wake us up and redirect our path. The question is: do we see these interruptions as inconveniences, or as opportunities for God to speak?
Finally, Balaam’s eyes were opened (vv. 31-35). He realized the angel stood in his way, and he bowed in submission. Balaam’s story reminds us that God’s purposes cannot be altered. We may try to resist, but Proverbs 14:12 warns: “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” Our role is not to fight against God’s will but to align ourselves with it.
Just as Balaam needed his eyes opened, so do we. And God has made that possible through Jesus Christ. In Him, we see clearly: Our detours are often God’s design, His redirections are His grace, and His purposes will always prevail.
So, the next time God blocks your path, don’t just see the train, the roadblock, or the inconvenience. Ask instead: What is God teaching me here? His plans are not meant to destroy us but to save us. Trust Him — His ways are always better. B&R
