“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.” – Numbers 22:31
The prophet Balaam certainly knew a lot of things. However, like most of us in the “Information Age”, his knowledge didn’t help him see the invisible spiritual realities surrounding him. As he went where he wasn’t supposed to go, his donkey recognized spiritual danger while Balaam remained completely blind. In frustration, Balaam lashed out at his donkey who repeatedly saved his life. Then God gave Balaam a glimpse of the real world.
In our everyday lives we generally don’t see angels and demons. In our foolishness, that often convinces us they aren’t real or present but they are. There is a spiritual reality underlying “everyday life” that we simply can’t see most of the time. All around us are the efforts, effects, and even battles of angels and demons. Efforts to protect and guide us. Efforts to derail and destroy us. And we don’t even see or even believe it. We’re blinder than Balaam!
If we could see this spiritual reality, it would radically change our spiritual lives! We’d understand, much more clearly, the vital importance and power available to us in prayer and take it much more seriously. We’d understand that our greatest battles aren’t against difficult people or situations but against spiritual powers. We’d recognize the spiritual threats against us and the spiritual resources available to us. We’d more richly dwell in God’s Word, God’s righteousness, and God’s gospel. We would take seriously the command to put on the full armor of God because we’d understand that every day is a spiritual battle.
How seriously do you take the spiritual reality Balaam got to see? Do you believe angels and demons are real and active in the world and in your life? The Bible is quite clear on this point regardless of what you believe! Take the spiritual realities of the world seriously, pray without ceasing, put on God’s full armor each day, and #FollowJesus!