Adrian
Old-Sunday Worship January 18th, 2026
  • Glorify Thy Name
  • His Name Is Wonderful
  • We Will Glorify

      • Psalm 40:1–11ESV

      • Psalm 40:1–11ESV

  • There Is a Fountain
  • Doxology

      • Numbers 22:1–23:1ESV

  • “Why Have You Beaten Your Donkey?”

    K. Adrian Scott
    January 18, 2026
    The Israelites are no longer enslaved in Egypt but are in the wilderness and traveling toward the land of Canaan; somewhere between bondage and the promise God made to them - “and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey,...” (Exodus 3.8).
    This traveling throng of people are now temporarily living in the “plains of Moab” and on their way to God’s promised land. Remember, Moab is the country founded by Lot, the nephew of the Hebrew patriarch, Abraham, and the father of the nation of Israel who became a nation of idolators, worshiping idol gods in direct conflict with the religious convictions of the founding father, righteous Lot. The nation of Moab was in the southern part of what is now the country of modern Jordan.
    The Moabites were not friendly toward the Israelites and were very displeased that the Hebrew nation of Israel was now living as neighbors to them, especially since the population of Israelites had grown tremendously during their captivity in Egypt. In the mind of Balak, king of Moab, because of their sheer size he thought the nation of Israel posed a great threat to the safety and security of the people of Moab. So, King Balak of Moab sent his messengers along with a contingent from the neighboring Midianites to a non-Israelite prophet named Balaam who had a reputation for successfully cursing some and blessing others. Balaam the prophet, was a Midianite himself, which is in northern Syria near the great Euphrates River. The elders of Moab and Midian sent by King Balak asks Balaam to curse the nation of Israel so that when war breaks out between the Moabites and Israel, the Moabites can defeat Israel and drive them out of the land (v.6).
    King Balak is desperate to drive out Israel from the land where they are now resting without knowing the Hebrew people did not settle in the plains of Moab permanently, but they were simply resting as they are on their way to the promised land.
    Note: Satan doesn’t have to worry about us for long because you and me are just here in this world between deliverance and God’s promise of a better place – our land of Canaan.
    The Text; Telling the Story.
    Vv. 7-11; “So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.
    v.8; And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me. So, the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
    Christian, there are some things we do not have to pray about! Did Balaam really think the Lord would give him permission to curse those the Lord, Adonai had already blessed? This is how a person thinks who is trying to change God’s mind about something. But God does not change His mind! God is immutable (unchanging) and He is omniscient or all-knowing- “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind" (1 Samuel 15.29). Also listen to a quote from the late theologian and Pastor John Gill - “It is God’s unchangeableness that guarantees the unchangeableness of His promises and that gives us strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.”
    v.9; And God came to Balaam and said, who are these men with you?
    ‘Look who are you with’ in other words. Here is Balaam having to confess his poor judgment. These are not godly people who are living out God’s will for their lives, but instead these are people who worship and serve a different god than that of the Hebrew nation. Nothing good can come of this!
    10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.”
    v. 12; “God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.”
    “the Lord has refused to let me go with you” -
    Question: What do you expect to receive from your prayers? An endorsement from God for our will or an education in God’s will?
    Israel is a blessed people. The Lord God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 and repeated the promise in chapter 15 and 27. Nothing or no one can stop them from entering that land!
    Vv. 15-19; “Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
    The pressure is being put on Balaam! The king is persistent and so is Satan in his temptation of God’s people. Satan’s goal is to get us to think like he thinks and not think as God thinks! Think about the prestigious and influential company of men you are with; think about the things and places and people all this money can give you access to. However, there is one thing money cannot give you access to and that any special is the Lord God! The truth is, “the love of money is the cause of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6.10).
    v.16; “And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,”
    17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.
    The question is – can Balaam be bought off? Will the expensive gifts, fees and prestige he will receive for his service be enough for Balaam to consider pronouncing this curse upon Israel? Will Balaam do this favor to the Moabites? Satan knows our weaknesses and at what price we can be bought! Another question is - ‘will God allow Balaam to come against God’s people? If the Lord is our Shield and Protector, then the Lord must act because Israel is at the mercy of their God! “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30.5). Psalm 9.9 says, “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” And Psalm 91.2 says, “I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
    18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
    That sounds good, but does Balaam really mean it? When more zeros are added to the total will you stay true to God?
    19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
    God has already spoken and told Balaam what God wants him to do. Did Balaam not hear the Lord clearly, or is he being stubborn because this is not what he wanted to hear from the Lord? When God has clearly spoken and we continue to ask the Lord the same question it is clear we want to hear a different answer from the Lord. In that case, sometimes the Lord will tell you what you want to hear and let you live with the consequences such as in verse 20 -
    Vv.20 - 21; “And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you. 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.”
    No matter what the Lord tells Balaam, it appears that Balaam is not going to be satisfied until he gets his way. Balaam, joining forces with those who oppose the clearly stated will of God in this matter is not a very good idea.
    Vv. 22-23; “But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
    Balaam is traveling with the bad company, and he is headed in the wrong direction and yet he expects God to bless his efforts?
    23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.”
    Isn’t it amazing that the donkey saw what the prophet could not see! Is Balaam too tuned into his thoughts about the trip and the payoff he will receive when he completes his job that he cannot see what is really happening in the spiritual realm?
    This trip is not God’s will and God is angry with Balaam’s stubborn and rebellious spirit! It is one thing to say you are seeking God’s will, but it is another thing to do God’s will!
    Question. What are you angry about? Is it your own making?
    Question: Who is your travel advisor? Are you traveling a forbidden route in life?
    Although you may be riding fast now, there is a roadblock ahead which you cannot see right now that will bring you to a sudden stop unless you turn around now! Despite Balaam’s stubborn will, God knew He had set up a roadblock down the road that Balaam could not get around! He thought he had gotten his way and was enjoying the ride with his donkey, but God knew best! He has the donkey set on cruise control, and he is enjoying the pleasant Mediterranean breeze and listening to his favorite music, but God has a plan. Friend, you will never catch God without a plan!
    Vv. 24-27; “Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
    v.25; And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So, he struck her again.
    This is love, and it is God’s love that hurts sometimes because God is trying to stop us from doing the wrong thing in the wrong direction! Balaam is acting foolish, and he is doing it with two servants with him witnessing the comedy!
    v.26; Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
    There is no place to go, Balaam! You are at your dead end.
    v.27; When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.”
    A donkey had more spiritual vision than the prophet did! And rather than go another step against the revealed will of God, the donkey laid down in protest!
    Vv. 28; “Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, what have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?
    This is the voice of a spouse, a parent, a friend, a relative, a co-worker - ‘What have I done to you?’ If Balaam could not see in the Spirit, maybe he could hear! And if he would listen to the Lord directly, God would use another means to communicate to Balaam. It doesn’t have to be a preacher whom God speaks through because some persons have turned a deaf ear to the preacher, but God can use your neighbor, the custodian on your job, or the mailman or woman. God can use the salesclerk who sold you shoes, your mechanic or a donkey to tell you what God wants you to know!
    v.29; And Balaam said to the donkey, because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.
    Balaam is more worried about saving his pride than his life being saved because the angel of the Lord stood there with his sword drawn (v. 23)!
    v.30; And the donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way? And he said, No.”
    Preaching Point.
    Whoever or whatever you’re abusing, mentally, emotionally or even physically may be talking to you! God can surely speak through your circumstances, the participants in your life who are trying to tell you what the Lord is saying to you, and we are too stubborn to listen!! Stop beating that donkey!
    Who are you taking your frustrations out on and why? Is it your spouse? Stop beating that donkey! Is it your children? Stop beating that donkey! Your siblings, Your boss? Or your neighbor? Stop beating those donkeys and listen and do what the Lord is trying to tell you to do.
    God is in the way, Balaam. God is trying to stop you! Why are we angry with those who are trying to lead us in the right direction?
    The sign said, “STOP” but Balaam ran the red light of God’s mercy and proceeded to travel unlawfully through the traffic light at the corner of divine will and sacred trust! He exceeded the speed limit of grace and crossed the corporate limits of divine favor! And when Balaam could not be apprehended by a sign, God tried to stop him with His voice. This is the prevailing love of God that goes to extraordinary lengths to keep us from the folly of ourselves.
    V. 31; “Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
    Balaam, you thought it was the donkey, but it was me all the time!
    32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.”
    Key Points.
    We will not be able to see what God is showing us if you are walking in disobedience.
    Who you are beating and taking your frustration out on may be the very one who is trying to save your life.

      • Numbers 22:1–32ESV

      • Exodus 3:8ESV

      • Numbers 22:7–8ESV

      • 1 Samuel 15:29ESV

      • Numbers 22:9–14ESV

      • Numbers 22:14bESV

      • 1 Timothy 6:10ESV

      • Proverbs 30:5ESV

      • Numbers 22:18–23ESV

      • Numbers 22:24–27ESV

      • Numbers 22:1–32ESV

      • Hebrews 4:6ESV

      • Psalm 103:12ESV

  • How Deep The Father's Love For Us

      • Numbers 6:24–26ESV

Adrian
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