Obstructive Providences
T. G. Horton. Numbers 22:15-35 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.… I. THE LESSONS IT TAUGHT BALAAM. 1. It convinced him of spiritual blindness. 2. It taught absolute submission to God. II. LESSONS TO US. 1. We often go on wrong errands, or on right errands in a wrong spirit. 2. God cheeks us in His providence and in love to our souls. Illness; raising up of insuperable difficulties; falling off of friends; superior success to rivals, &c. 3. We are apt to fret and be angry at the instruments of our disappointment. We cast our spite and blame on second causes. 4. We should seek spiritual enlightenment to see that it is God's doing. Be not angry and resentful, but give yourselves to prayer; else, like Balaam, you will not see it is God who opposes you (ver. 34). 5. We can only be permitted to go forward when we are brought to a state of perfect subjection to God. Two things are here included — a perfect purity of motive and freedom from worldly self-seeking, and an entire acquiescence in whatever God appoints, desires, or does. (T. G. Horton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. WEB: Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.