I'm enjoying posting something about covenant marriages on Mondays. It encourages me as I read and post them here and really I'm hoping that somebody out there will also be encouraged. Here's another letter written by David, a fellow stander from North Carolina.
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"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." Numbers 22:31
When I was younger I knew the story because of the talking donkey, but it means so much more to me now. I encourage you to read the whole story of Balaam’s donkey, which starts in Numbers Chapter 22, verse 21. The angel of the LORD blocks the path of Balaam three times in this story. The first time (verse 22) caused the donkey to veer off the path to avoid the angel of the LORD. The second time (verse 25) there was not as much room and the donkey crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall. The third time (verse 26) there was no room to even attempt getting out of the way of the angel of the LORD, and so the donkey simply fell down causing Balaam’s already burning anger to boil over.
You see what God is doing here? As Balaam kept pursuing the rebellion (he went with princes of Moab, though God said not to in verse 12), God kept tightening the screws on him. Finally, God said enough is enough and opened Balaam’s eyes! Let us never forget that God alone is the one who opens eyes at the right time, and He will do that for our prodigals.
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
All prodigals who walk away from the Lord’s path do so because they are chasing after the world. It does not need to be obvious stuff like riches or fame, but it can be selfish ambitions that put our own desires before God’s—many of these things are encouraged by the world. But, chasing after lovers of any sort, either sinful relationships or less apparent "lovers" like independence and prideful ambitions will only go on as long as God allows it...not a day longer. Let’s make a point to all to pray Hosea 2:6-7 over our own spouse as well as over prodigals continuously.
"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now'" Hosea 2:6-7
Recall Saul, who was on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He was viciously pursuing Christians and had paperwork in hand so that he could imprison Christians if he found them there. God had other plans. He brought light into the darkness that had held Saul for so long. In fact, I think Saul had lived in darkness for so long that this is why the light blinded him (have you ever walked out into bright light after a significant time in a dark room or just had bright lights turned on early in the morning?)
Don’t give up on your prodigal, because God has not given up on him/her. I know how painful it is to see the hope that God has for your marriage, and yet your spouse’s eyes have not yet been opened (I’m there with you). "But God" will touch your spouse’s heart. It is the enemy who wants to convince you that it is hopeless. Jesus said "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Mark 10:9) God knows that to be rejoined, hearts must be changed. God knows that a marriage does not work when husband and wife are pursuing different paths. God knows all things.
"Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" Amos 3:3 (NKJV)
God knows what must be done to bring you together again with your covenant spouse. We must simply surrender our hearts for our part, and then pray continuously. God tells us to pray boldly and continuously (Luke 11:1-11) and persistently (Luke 18:1-8). I don’t believe that Jesus Himself instructed us to pray this way for no good reason. I believe that Jesus is telling us that prayers definitely matter! I think prayers please God in ways we will never know, but if He tells us to pray and believe, then let’s do it! Trust God to do the rest.
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
"I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." Jeremiah 32:39
Notice, God says He will do the work, so let’s praise Him in advance for His work in bringing our spouses back to Him and healing our broken marriage.
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13
6 comments:
Great message for today Pia; thanks for sharing. As you said, the donkey is the common focus of the story, but there is so much more.
Great post as usual, Pia. Keep sharing. Many need to hear.
Love and blessings your way.
In our 36 years in ministry we have seen many marriages healed. It does not happen overnight but it can be done if both give 100% and the Lord at the center of their marriage. Great message. God bless you dear.
I love this verse:
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
I've always loved this story about Balaam and the donkey. It's such a good reminder that we don't always know what God knows or see what He sees. So much is going on in the spirit realm that we have no idea about.
Dear Pia, thi was such a precious post. I am dealing with some prodigals. God i s dealing with them in Hi s mysterious ways. Human involvement is also needed but God orchestrates it all.
The scriptures are eye openers too.
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