This,
Balaam, is determined to follow evil.
Some
of our ministers are determined to teach a false doctrine.
I
wonder if it will be necessary for an ass to speak to us, before we will
listen?
"But
was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the
madness of the prophet."
We
will find in the Scriptures the determined Baalam who was stopped by God from
doing a very foolish thing.
The
Lord did not want him to go, and he went anyhow. Look, with me, at what
happened.
"And
God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the
way for an adversary against him.
Now
he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him."
"And
the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in
his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and
Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way."
"But
the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this
side, and a wall on that side."
"And
when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and
crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again."
"And
the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no
way to turn either to the right hand or to the left."
"And
when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and
Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff."
"And
the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I
done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?"
"And
Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a
sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee."
"And
the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden
ever since I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?
And
he said, Nay."
"Then
the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing
in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and
fell flat on his face."
"And
the angel of the LORD said unto him,
Wherefore
hast thou smitten thine ass these three times?
behold,
I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:"
"And
the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned
from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive."
This
prophet had gone astray, as these last few lessons have been teaching us about
the false prophets. This, Balaam, is determined to follow evil.
Some
of our ministers are determined to teach a false doctrine.
I
wonder if it will be necessary for an ass to speak to us, before we will
listen?