Resources: Lesson Manuscript, PowerPoint, Bible Reading Plan, Other Commentaries, etc.
Franklin Heights Church Connect Groups: https://franklinheights.org/connect/groups/
Franklin Heights Church Bible Reading Plan: https://franklinheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025-Bible-Reading-Plan.pdf
Review: Last week we looked at how Moses expressed unbelief toward God and struck the rock willfully twice and God-in His mercy-still allowed water to pour out, but Moses would not be allowed into the Promised Land.
Title: God’s Plans
Text: Numbers 22:22-35
Key Verse: Numbers 22:38, “38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.”
Introduction: In this week’s lesson we see that… Theme: God can use any means He chooses to accomplish His will.
Has there ever been a time where God used someone or a circumstance to work in your life and point you in the direction you should go? He uses His word, the Holy Spirit, prayer, other believers, and sometimes, He uses the most unlikely to make His will plain and clear. He works outside of our box, as it were. God uses an unlikely and even unwilling individual in our lesson to accomplish His will.
Main Points:
- Obstacles Met (Numbers 22:22-27)
“22 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. 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. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 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. 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. 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.”
- With 2 Amorite kings defeated already, Israel was an intimidating foe to the Moabites and their king Balak. But they were poised to begin the campaign of Canaan.
- Balak sends an official delegation to Mesopotamia to enlist the services of a medium, Balaam.
- Initially, God forbade him to go, but when the second delegation came begging for his services, God allowed it. They were now in God’s schoolroom, as it were.
- God became incensed with Balaam on the way, and sent the angel of the Lord to block his way, which could have been a theophany, an OT appearance of Christ, yet the text isn’t clear. It could have been simply a powerful messenger/angel sent to judge the medium/seer.
- There is a bit of levity in the way God deals with Balaam, allowing his donkey to see the angel while this so-called medium couldn’t initially.
II. Attention Gained (Numbers 22:28-31)
“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?” 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.” 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.” 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.”
- The donkey then speaks supernaturally to it’s master, asking why he beat it.
- God created Balaam, and God created that donkey, and God can speak through and use whom He wants. The sooner Balaam got with God’s program, rather than being a hired hand for the Moabites, the better.
- In his frustrated and flustered state, he comically answers back! Can you believe it?, telling her he wanted to kill her for making a fool of him.
- Then God opened his eyes to see the angelic being with the flaming sword in his path, and he suddenly bowed in worship.
III. God’s Plan (Numbers 22:32-35)
“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[c] before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.”
- The angel confronts him for beating his donkey and confronts him for his error in making this journey in cahoots with the Moabites. His opposition was strong when he told Balaam, “Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse[c] before me.”
- He calls him out for his evil actions and contrasts his evil actions to the life-preserving actions of the donkey. He claimed to have these powers of seeing, but didn’t have enough discernment to rival that of even that donkey.
- He confesses, yet fenagles his way to continue the journey. He’s an example here of asking for forgiveness, but immediately not bearing any lasting spiritual fruit in keeping with repentance.
- The angel then allows it, but says he’d have to speak the words the Lord gave him.
- The Lord would not allow the people He had blessed to be cursed by a prophet for hire.
Doctrine: Our key doctrine for this week is God the Father.
Lifeway says, “God reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purpose of His grace.”
Psalm 103:19, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Matthew 10:29-31, “29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[a] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Gospel:
Gospel transition statement(s): Because of their brokenness, people make decisions not based on God’s Word and integrity and find themselves in morally confusing, corrupting, and questionable circumstances. When we encounter people facing the moral dilemma-even of their own making-we need to transition these conversations into gospel conversations with courage. Gospel Conversation Transition Statement: “I haven’t dealt with that exact moral dilemma, but I have experienced similar moral dilemmas, and that’s why I need Jesus. May I share with you the forgiveness and direction I have found in Jesus?”
Big Takeaway(s):
- For the believer, following God’s plan and will isn’t an obstacle-free life.
- We need to be sensitive to God’s leading, being intentional to seek Him regularly
- Surrendering our plans is required to follow God’s plans.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the obstacles in our lives that—if we let them—can keep us from seeing God’s ways and will right in front of us?
Our pride, self-reliance, lack of spiritual disciplines (reading the Word, prayer, journaling, quality and uninterrupted time with God, being slack in church and Connect Group attendance, or going through just the motions of these spiritual activities without allowing our heart’s affections to be engaged and our lives to be changed.
- What are some practical steps to being sensitive to God’s leadership in our lives?
Prayer, meditation on Scripture, not simply reading it to check a box, walking in the Spirit moment-by-moment, with teachability, receiving help from brothers and sisters in Christ who are more mature in their walk with God.
- What benefits or outcomes can we anticipate when we seek to follow God’s plans?
Living under the umbrella of His favor, His peace, his presence
- What is one of your big takeaways from God’s Word here?
Please share your takeaway within your group and add your takeaway it in the comments.
Caleb Walker 
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