04/19/2026
This was part of the Adult Bible Study this morning.
If you feel like God is against you, like doors are closing, pressure is rising, and nothing is going the way you expected, Numbers 22:28–30 meets you right there. It speaks into those moments where you are confused, frustrated, maybe even angry, and you cannot understand why things keep resisting you. But through the finished work of Jesus, what feels like opposition is not rejection. It is protection wrapped in a way you did not expect.
“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?’ 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.’ 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’” (Numbers 22:28–30). This moment is almost shocking. God uses something completely unexpected to interrupt Balaam’s path. Not to harm him, but to stop him.
One of the most overlooked details is that Balaam could not see what the donkey saw. The angel of the Lord was standing in the path, but Balaam was blind to it. That matters. Because sometimes you cannot see what God is protecting you from. You only feel the frustration of being stopped. You only see things not working. But what looks like delay is actually mercy.
Another detail people miss is that the donkey had to go off the path, press against a wall, and finally refuse to move at all. Each step looked like failure from Balaam’s perspective. But each step was actually preserving his life. That is the grace contrast. Under a performance mindset, you would interpret resistance as something wrong with you. Like you missed it, like you failed, like God is disappointed. But grace shows you that God intervenes even when you do not understand it.
Think about how extreme this moment is. God opens the mouth of a donkey. That means He is willing to use anything to get your attention and redirect you. Not to embarrass you, not to expose you, but to keep you from going somewhere that would harm you. That is not the heart of a God who is against you. That is the heart of a Father who is actively protecting you.
Another overlooked detail is Balaam’s reaction. He is angry. He lashes out. He does not recognize what is happening. And yet God still speaks. That matters more than you think. Because it shows you that God’s intervention in your life is not dependent on you responding perfectly. Even in frustration, even in confusion, He is still working on your behalf.
Under the law or a performance mindset, you might think that moments like this mean you are being punished. That God is blocking you because you are not good enough or not doing enough. But through the finished work of Jesus, that is not how God relates to you anymore. Your standing is not based on your performance. It is based on what Jesus has already accomplished.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). That means when you experience resistance, it is not God condemning you. It is not Him turning against you. It is not Him withdrawing His love. You are already fully accepted. So anything He allows or does in your life flows from that place of acceptance, not from judgment.
Another detail people often miss is the consistency of the donkey. She had carried Balaam faithfully for years. This was not random behavior. Something was clearly different. That is important. Because when something shifts in your life, when things stop working the way they used to, it is worth paying attention. Not with fear, but with trust that God sees something you do not.
“For we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Not some things. All things. Even the confusing moments. Even the frustrating interruptions. Even the paths that do not go the way you planned. Through the finished work, God is not reacting to your life. He is already working within it for your good.
So if you feel blocked, delayed, or redirected right now, do not assume God is against you. He may be protecting you from something you cannot see. He may be preserving your life in a way that does not make sense yet. And through His finished work, you can rest knowing that His heart toward you is not judgment, but care.
You are not at the mercy of random circumstances. You are being led, even when it feels unclear. And the same God who opened a donkey’s mouth to protect Balaam is the God who is actively involved in your life, guiding you, covering you, and keeping you on a path that leads to life. Not because of your perfection, but because of His grace.
