- Pastor Curtis Mohler
- October 13, 2026
- Stubbornness and Pride can cost us blessings and opportunities, while derailing us from God’s “will” and destiny for our lives.
- Numbers 22:20-34; Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 28:3; Psalms 81:11,12; Luke 10:16; I Thessalonians 4:8
Balak, king of Moab, held deep hostility toward the Israelites and was devoted to worshiping the false god Chemosh. When the Israelites camped in Moab, east of the Jordan River, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they were ready to enter the Promised Land. Seeing their growing numbers and God’s clear blessings, Balak sought to oppose them by hiring a pagan diviner to curse God’s chosen people. He found Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia who offered prophetic interpretations for profit. Balak sent multiple delegations promising great wealth if Balaam would curse Israel, while deceptively seeking God’s permission. Despite his background, Balaam feared God and faced the choice between obeying God’s messages or giving in to greed. At first, Balaam told God what he was offered to do, and God replied, “You will not curse Israel, for they are not cursed but blessed” (v.12).
Despite God’s warnings, Balaam desired riches, fame, and honor, and saddled his donkey to go curse Israel for profit, accompanied by two servants. On the road, the Angel of the Lord stood to oppose him, visible only to the donkey. Three times the donkey moved off the road to avoid the Angel, and three times Balaam beat it. Eventually, God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the Angel, and the donkey spoke, saying, “Why do you beat me for no reason?" "Have I not been faithful to you and your friend from the beginning?" "Do you think I am disobeying without cause?” Balaam, in repentance, fell to the ground and confessed to the Lord for ignoring His warnings.
Like Balaam, God often uses the words of others and different methods to lovingly steer us away from harm or distractions that could keep us from our God-given purpose. But our stubbornness and selfishness can make us miss out on His blessings and the best He has for us. As God’s people, we should be thankful for preachers, teachers, deacons, leaders, and others who care enough to warn us about paths that could hurt us. The Bible says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6), and reminds us that rejecting God’s messengers, His word, and those offering godly counsel is ultimately rejecting the Holy Spirit and God Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:8; Luke 10:16).
In short, remember that if we resist the Holy Spirit and ignore God’s warnings for our lives, He still honors the “free will” He grants us, even when it leads to our downfall. We might end up fighting against God Himself and facing the consequences of our pride and stubbornness. As the Bible says, “So, I gave them over to their own heart, to walk in their own counsels.” (Psalms 81:11-12)
