A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 27:12 NLT
There are certain times in life when we need to make a mid-course adjustment: times when we clearly see the road we’re on is leading us in the wrong direction. If we are wise, we’ll recognize the danger, and do whatever it takes to ensure our spiritual, emotional and physical well being.
There’s no wisdom in turning a blind eye when God sends us warning signs. Balaam was a guy who needed a mid-course adjustment, but couldn’t see the warning signs God was sending him.
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it 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 only 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. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” Numbers 22:21-33 NIV
Talk about a humbling experience, at that particular time, Balaam’s ass had more spiritual insight than he did, and God made sure Balaam knew it! Herein lies a great example of the mercy and love God shows us when we are on the wrong path. God went out of His way to protect his servant and show him the danger that awaited him if he continued down the same road. Notice how the road got more narrow each time Balaam ignored God’s warning, until the road was so narrow there was no room to turn off. That’s the way it works when we’re on a sinful path, each time we ignore the voice of God, it gets more and more dangerous with less opportunity to turn off, until we either stop or face complete destruction.
“I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me,” God told Balaam. What is God saying to you today? Is He pleased with the path you’ve chosen or is it a reckless one? Has He in His mercy been sending you warnings? Do you need a mid-course adjustment?
There’s another Biblical example of a guy who God met mid way on his journey and confronted him with the need for change:
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:1-6 NIV
Saul, who we know as Paul, humbled himself before God and followed His instructions. Despite the mistakes he had made prior to this experience, God had amazing plans for Paul’s life. Take joy in knowing this; no matter what you’ve done up until this point, if you humble yourself and make the necessary changes, God can use you in amazing ways! Just look at what Paul accomplished in the years after he made a mid-course adjustment!
I challenge you today to stop and evaluate the road you’re traveling. Is it the road God wants you on? Has He been sending you warning signs, but instead of recognizing them, have you, like Balaam, been responding in anger and frustration? Can you see the road you’re on getting more narrow each day? Think about it. God could have simply judged Balaam, but instead He had mercy. Have you been ignoring the warning signs of danger ahead? If so, it’s never too late to change directions!
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 27:12 NLT