Sermon: "God's View Of Fence Sitters"
How many of you have ever played “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”? I did an Internet search on this game and here is a little of what I found.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a game played by groups of children. A picture of a donkey is tacked to a wall within easy reach of the children. Then each child in turn, one at a time, is blindfolded and handed a paper “tail” with a push pin or thumbtack poked through it. (The picture of the donkey is missing its tail). The blindfolded child is then spun around and around until he or she is dizzy. Then the child gropes around and tries to pin the tail on the donkey.
Because almost all children raised in the United States (and most of western Europe) have played this game for the last several generations, it is considered common culture.
For the next three weeks you are going to be hearing a lot about donkey tales. Not donkey “tails”, but donkey “tales”.
As you know, a tale is a story. Yes, for the next two weeks you are going to be hearing stories that involve donkeys. Why?
Because one week from tomorrow many children from our church, and the surrounding communities, are going to spend their days at the church preparing a musical they will present on Sunday, June 24th in the Worship Center at the 9:30 and 11:00 o’clock services.
The musical is called “Donkey Tales” and is based on three scripture passages where donkeys play a key role.
The origin of the word “donkey” is unclear. It was not until the late seventeen hundreds that the word donkey started to replace the word ass to describe this animal.
The donkey first came to the United States with Christopher Columbus. Records show he brought four males and two female asses or donkeys with him.
The donkey was made popular in this country by the miners and gold prospectors of the 1800’s. Miners preferred donkeys because they could carry a lot of weight, had a sociable disposition, and enjoyed human companionship. The miners did not need to lead their donkeys with ropes. They simply followed behind their master.
Donkeys are intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful and eager to learn. It is difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it sees as contrary to its own best interest.
Our donkey tale for this morning comes from the Old Testament. Before we look at this donkey tale, which happens to be a long tale, allow me to give you the key point for our lesson this morning so you can keep it in mind as we read our donkey tale.
To please God you must stop being a fence sitter and be totally committed to him.
With that in mind, let’s look at the tale of …
I. BALAAM AND HIS DONKEY
The tale begins just before Moses dies and Joshua leads the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. Moses and the Children of Israel, all two million of them, have just defeated the Amorites and Og, King of Bashan. Here is the biblical account of what happens next.
NUMBERS 22:1-4a – 1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4aThe Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
When you look at a map you can see why Moab was concerned. The Children of Israel were camped just to their north.
So Balak, who was King of Moab looked for help from Midian which was a country located to their south.
Midian was where Moses spent the 40 years between the time that he fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian who had been beating a Hebrew and his return for the Exodus. During those years, he married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a priest of Midian.
Midian was also the scene where one of the best known incidents of the Bible occurred – the Lord’s appearance in the burning bush.
In spite of the Midianites connection with Moses, the elders of Midian agreed to work with, and support, Balak. Here is what they choose to do.
NUMBERS 22:4b-7 – 4bSo Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
Balaam lived a long way from Moab.
Pethor was located in Mesopotamia on the Euphrates River. Even as the crow flies it would have been a journey of approximately 400 miles and probably close to 600 miles overland. Balaam’s reputation for being able to cast spells, pronounce curses or blessings and to make contact with the spiritual world, had to be great in order for Balak to even know he existed. Balaam evidently made a good living doing what he did because the elders took gold, jewels or something else of great value with them in order to pay for Balaam’s services.
Let’s continue with the story.
NUMBERS 22:8-12 – 8Spend the night here, “Balaam said to them, “and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
9God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message” 11’A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”
12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
At this point, Balaam doesn’t look like such a bad person, but his heart is, indeed, evil. Yes, God did speak to him. To keep his people safe God sometimes speaks to those who are ungodly. Let’s continue.
NUMBERS 22:13-14 -- 13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14So the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Balaam still looks like a good person. Let’s keep going.
NUMBERS 22:15-18 -- 15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16They came to Balaam and said: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.
Balaam still seems to be doing everything right, so let’s continue.
NUMBERS 22:19 – “Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the Lord will tell me.”
Here we start to get a look into Balaam’s heart. He already knew what God had said. I think if you could look into Balaam’s heart you would see a heart that wanted the money, honor and fame that Balak’s opportunity offered him. He was hoping God would change his mind.
It is like people who know what God has said in his word, but they don’t like it and will try to find someone who will tell them what they want to hear.
Balaam wanted to serve God when it was convenient, but he also wanted to be able to go his own way at times. In the children’s musical the children sing a song about this called, “Sittin’ on the Fence.” Here are some of the words.
Are you sittin’ on the fence, sittin’ on the fence
Giv-in’ God part but not all your heart, doesn’t make sense,
You gotta give him your all, or you just might fall.
You can’t have two masters. You gotta make a choice,
If you listen to the bad guy, you can’t hear the good guy’s voice.
Balaam was sitting on the fence. Here is what happened.
NUMBERS 22:20 – That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
Sometimes God lets us do what we want to do, since it is clear we don’t really want to do what he has already told us. Balaam has not given himself completely to God. He has not said like Jesus said, “Not my will, but your will be done.” Oh, he looks good on the outside but God sees our hearts.
When you play with fire – evil – you often get burnt. Balaam is on a path that leads to the eternal fires of hell. Let’s continue with his story.
NUMBERS 22:21-23 – 21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22But 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. 23When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
It is not good to play games with God. He is not pleased with just lip service. He doesn’t like half-hearted people. Balaam is in great danger but doesn’t realize God is opposing him.
NUMBERS 22:24-25 -- 24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again.
Sometimes God may use physical problems or even accidents to get our attention. It didn’t have any effect on Balaam. He just expressed his pain and anger by beating his donkey.
NUMBERS 22:26-30 -- 26Then 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. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30The 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.
I wonder what Balaam was thinking as he was carrying on a conversation with a donkey. I’m sure he was still filled with anger. We know he felt his donkey made him look foolish in front of the men he was traveling with.
NUMBERS 22:31-38 -- 31Then 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.
32The 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. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”
34Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38”Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
Again, Balaam looks good on the outside and is saying the right things. In fact, Balak takes Balaam up on various hills where they can look down on Israel and each time he blesses Israel instead of cursing them. But Balaam is still sitting on the fence for we read these words after Balaam had blessed Israel twice.
NUMBERS 23:27-24:2 -- 27Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” 28And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert. 2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him.
Notice that even as Balaam was obeying God by blessing Israel, he was still involved in sorcery. He did not love the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind.
Here is how the encounter Balaam had with Balak ended.
NUMBERS 24:10-14 -- 10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13’Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord – and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Balaam then went on under the control of God’s Spirit to say …
NUMBERS 24:17 – I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
That star was King David, who hundreds of years later would defeat Moab, and the Moabites would become David’s servants.
Before we look at what we can learn about God and how he desires us to live our lives, let’s look at a few other scriptures which will help us close the book on Balaam. We begin with …
NUMBERS 25:1-9 -- 1While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. 3So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.
4The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
5So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor.”
6Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them – through the Israelite and into the woman’s body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.
Twenty four thousand people died, but was that Balaam’s doing? Yes, it was. Let’s turn to …
NUMBERS 31:1-4 -- 1The Lord said to Moses, 2”Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
3So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.”
The Children of Israel have a great victory, but Moses was not pleased with some of their actions.
NUMBERS 31:14-17 -- 14Moses was angry with the officers of the army – the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds – who returned from the battle.
15”Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16”They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man.”
There is Balaam at work. He is the one who suggested to the women of Moab and Midian that they seduce the men of Israel. Here is what the New Testament has to say about Balaam.
II Peter 2:10, 15 – 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings.
15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
JUDE 11 – Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
REVELATION 2:14 – Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Okay, that closes the book on Balaam, so let’s look at ….
II. LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM BALAAM AND HIS DONKEY
A. YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO GODS
The first commandment of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Jesus said …
MATTHEW 6:24 – No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
And many of you are familiar with this passage from Revelation that tells us what God thinks about “fence sitters” – half-hearted people.
REVELATION 3:15-16 – 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
So the first lesson we can learn from this donkey tale is … GIVE YOURSELF COMPLETELY TO GOD.
The second lesson we can learn from this donkey tale also comes from a song the children will be singing. It’s called “God Can Use Me.” Here are some of the words …
God Can Use Me
God can use me, God can use me,
If God used a donkey, my friend,
Then wouldn’t you agree God can use me.
So lesson two is …
B. GOD CAN USE YOU
I don’t know about you, but I sort of like being compared to a donkey because … It clearly shows that God can use everyone of us in ways we never dreamed would be possible. We don’t need to be rich, strong, good looking, intelligent or a spiritual giant, we just need to be willing to offer ourselves completely to him.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, the children are going to have fun and learn some good things about God, such as …
- YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO GODS … you must love the one true God with all your heart, soul and mind.
and
- GOD CAN USE YOU … just as you are. You just need to offer yourself to him.