Today is Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday Jesus traveled into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowd placed palm branches on the ground at his feet. The palm tree was a tree of honor. This day starts Holy Week (Mark 11:8-10) . I wrote a special message last year as a reflection of this week. Click here to read. Have a blessed week!
One day during a visit, my sister became extremely tickled by my male cat. My cat has a funny way of saying “Meow.” Depending on your interpretation it sounds like he saying “Hello.” It is a real trip to hear! Sometimes when he wants something he goes into this whining meow that almost sounds like “Mama.” I don’t have children yet so I admit I may be just “hearing” this because the biological clock is ringing really hard in my ear. Although I do talk to my cat like he is a person, if he talked back to me in plain English one day I would seriously question my mental state. Or would I even notice?
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
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 22-28-31 NIV
The first thing that comes to mind when reading this passage, “Uuum, dude, do you know are talking to a donkey?” This was not normal so it seemed like he should have went into some type of SHOCK! But he didn’t, Balaam had a normal conversation with a donkey. Let’s check out this passage a little more to find out what happened to Balaam’s brain!
By this time all the surrounding countries had heard about the great exodus from Egypt and were very afraid of this large group of people. As the Israelites settled in Moab, Balak, the king of Moab sought out Balaam to curse the Israelites. God gave Balaam strict orders not to follow Balak’s wishes. Refusing to be deterred, the king “sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first” to convince Balaam of this mission. Now keep in mind Balaam already knew what God told him to do, but he tells the second group, “Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the LORD will tell me.”
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Numbers 22:20-22 NIV“
Now as you are reading this you may wonder why did the Lord get angry at Balaam. He did give him permission to go with the princes. Remember earlier when I told you to keep in mind Balaam already knew what God wanted done with this situation. I believe this second group of princes with their fine clothes, jewelry, etc tapped into Balaam’s desire for materialism. God already told Balaam the Israelites were a blessed people and he was not to curse them. With this knowledge Balaam should have sent the second group away immediately, but he didn’t. He asked them to spend the night so he could “find out what else the LORD will tell me.” What was Balaam thinking? Did he think God was going to change His mind and instruct him to curse His chosen people?
I believe Balaam did not really notice he was talking to his donkey because he had “ching-ching” in his eyes. He had become intrigued and focused on the promised “rewards” from Balak, the king of Moab. I believe he had intentions to follow through with God’s plans, but at the same time he was fighting a fleshly battle as well.
When God tells us something how often do we question him or look for another way around the situation? Has God every gotten your attention through an unusual way? Although I wonder sometimes what is that crazy cat thinking about, “Meow” is a good enough response for me. I don’t want to be so self-absorbed and on my own mission that God has to go extremes to get my attention.
Unfortunately, I believe God has been dealing with me about being self-centered lately. Too often than I care to admit I like to be in “control” and “have it my way.” I tend to gloss over the fact that God’s ways are higher than mine. Instead of second guessing God as Balaam did, I need to take Him at His Word.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8 NIV
Most bible reading plans start off in the book of Genesis, which is fitting since it tells our story from the beginning. It’s the end of January and I have once again familiarized myself with Creation, The Flood and the great patriarchs. I have probably read Genesis far more than any of the other Old Testament books. It amazes me how know matter how often I read the same passages, something new draws my attention.
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift-a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. Genesis 43:11 NIV
Mmmm, pistachio nuts and almonds! Yes, these are the words that struck me. I know you are like what is so interesting about nuts. Nothing in particular other than the fact these are my two favorites and I can relate to how these two nuts were included in the big gift pack for Joseph.
If you are not familiar with the story of Joseph, in a nutshell, while he was a teenager, Joseph was sold to be a slave by his own brothers. Through a series of circumstances Joseph find himself in prison and later through some supernatural dream interpretation he became second-in-command to Pharaoh. A famine had broken out and Egypt became the food center of the world. Joseph recognized his brothers when they came to Egypt to purchase food. His brothers did not recognize him, but they quickly noticed they had become his targets as he sent them back home to bring back the youngest brother, Benjamin.
When you think of the story of Joseph, often we are enamored by this man’s faith through some pretty serious circumstances. He could have chosen the bitter route, but he didn’t, he chose to trust God and flourish where God had placed him. Even more startling is Joseph’s decision to forgive instead of taking revenge when he had the opportunity.
While the nuts caught my eye during this particular read through, something more important came to mind while reading about this preparation of gifts. A transformation took place in Canaan while Joseph worked as a slave and prisoner in Egypt. I imagine during the days, months and years that went by Joseph’s brothers suffered. The decision they made that day probably tore at their hearts whenever they looked at their father’s (Jacob) grieving face. It brings a sense of hope to see how these brothers strived to protect Benjamin, the “remaining” son of Rachel, but years before out of pure jealousy and hatred, they thoughtlessly sold Rachel’s firstborn son. Judah was the ringleader in this hateful decision, but when Joseph tried to detain Benjamin in Egypt, look who spoke up.
“Now then, please let your servant [Judah] remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.” Genesis 44:33-34 NIV
This man learned a lesson about love and the value of life. In his maturity, he no longer merely thought about himself and his obvious hurt over his father’s favoritism of Rachel’s sons. His love was genuine as he sought to protect the father and younger brother he loved.
How often do we make impulsive or plain bad decisions based on our emotions? Who do we grieve over and continuously pray that he/she might see the errors of his/her ways? The story of Joseph and his brothers gives hope that people DO change and that God has a purpose for every season of our lives. Even those seasons we wish we could forget! Don’t give up on that individual because it seems like he or she will never change. God is always working in the background preparing them (and us) for a specific purpose.
But God sent me [Joseph] ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:7 NIV
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30 NIV
I think it was about two months ago. I was washing my hands in the bathroom at work. While looking in the mirror, I noticed something odd at the edge of my hair. Thinking it was piece of lint, I looked closer to pull it. To my surprise, it was my hair … not just my hair … but my first gray hair! Ok, now at this point I should have freaked out and proceeded to pull it, but I didn’t. I stood there for a few moments examining the small strand of gray. Something about it made me feel “mature.” Like I had stepped into some new level of life.
This morning as I brushed my hair, the little strand is now a lot longer. It blends into my black hair so it really is not noticeable, I started to think how did this happen anyway. I mean it just appeared out of nowhere. Lots of folks joke, “My kids made me gray!” Well I don’t know about that theory because I’m not a mom yet so I decided to do a little research.
Why Does Hair Turn Gray?
Each hair on our heads is made up of a shaft – the colored part we see growing out of our heads – and a root at the bottom that keeps the hair anchored under the scalp. The root of every strand of hair is surrounded by a tube of tissue under the skin that is called the hair follicle. Each hair follicle contains a certain number of pigment cells called melanin. The amount of melanin determines the darkness or lightness of the hair color. As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die and stop producing melanin. Thus giving us our white, silver and grays. Age and genetics have a lot to do with the eventual appearance of gray. [Information adapted from KidsHealth.org.]
Just another part of the aging process. AGE. Saying that word in this country makes people cringe. I have watched countless television shows or specials where a person undergoes a makeover transformation. If gray or silver strands are noticeable, by the time the makeover is completed, those shameful strands have been covered up. The hair coloring industry makes mega bucks on people desiring to cover up any evidence of aging.
Why Be Ashamed of Growing Old?
Why should we be ashamed to grow old? I’m looking forward to the aging process. Will my hair be silver like my maternal grandmother or salt n’pepper like my paternal grandmother? With this transformation upon my head, I’m hoping to have acquired some wisdom from my ton of mistakes.
Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained by a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31 NIV
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD , they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. Psalm 92:12-15 NIV
When you look at the scriptures age is portrayed in a totally different manner. Society encourages people to run and seek the fountain of youth. Those who choose not to be hemmed in by society’s fear of aging will find themselves led to greener pastures by the Great Shepherd Himself.
