Musing again

So I was reading (well technically listening to a man with a lovely voice on my phone app read it) this passage the other day and have really been mulling it over for the last few days. Numbers 22: 22-35

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. 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. 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[b] 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.

How many times is it in our nature to get angry because something is not going our way? Man, I can't even count the times that I've acted like Balaam and was FURIOUS because something wasn't going my way! He was seriously beating his donkey while the donkey was protecting him! He didn't know that of course but if he would have taken the time to observe the situation and seek the Lord's counsel he probably would have stayed more calm about it all. I get so flustered and frustrated because nothing is going the way I want, when GOD ALMIGHTY is putting road blocks in my way to protect me. Do I take the time to seek HIM and see why those road blocks are there? Nope! I get angry and want to beat down whatever is in my way! This is not a new concept to me but it is always a humbling lesson to learn. Be patient, Seek the Lord's will and not my own and trust that if things aren't happening the way I want them to then there IS A REASON but I don't need to know what it is! I love it when an old story gains new understanding!