“Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.” Numbers 22:26
It was truly a trip of a lifetime. The sites to see were amazing and the hustle and bustle of the city was overwhelming to experience. We did, however, run into one problem -trying to leave New York City just prior to rush hour. Gridlocked. When we tried to turn to the right or to the left we were completely boxed in. What should have been a two-hour drive, turned into a four hour crawl back home.
Have you ever felt hemmed in? In your efforts to go this way or that you hit the proverbial brick wall and can’t seem to get to where you want to go. In the account of Balaam, and more well known as Balaam’s donkey, Balaam’s aggressive action toward his donkey was unleashed when it wouldn’t go where he wanted it to. What he didn’t know at the moment was that an angel of the LORD was directing the donkey’s way. “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.” (v.32) We can potentially be unaware of a desired path’s reckless results.
Yet another delay evoked even more frustration as we headed home from the city. This time though, it became obvious that there was something serious up ahead as billowing smoke preceded an overturned, blazing semi-truck in the road. Thoughts of the hemmed-in protection of God earlier in our trip quickly flooded our minds. Our once frustrating traffic-delayed departure was actually God’s hand guiding us in safety.
Dear One, thank God today for the way He guides and directs our path, and even the way He hems us in.
