Visitors must hike a narrow, three-quarter-mile footpath that winds between high sandstone cliffs to reach Jordan’s hidden city of Petra. But the stunning vision of the lost city at the end of the trail is worth the effort.
When the donkey that the prophet Balaam rode saw God’s angel ahead, the animal sensibly tried to avoid danger by going off the path into a field. Balaam beat the poor creature to get her back on the road. The angel continued to block the way forward, so the donkey pressed close to one wall, hurting Balaam’s foot. Doing so earned her a second beating. When the beast was still unable to pass to the right or left of the angel, she saw no other alternative. She lay down under her master. Balaam lost his cool. His frustration erupted for the third time, and he struck his poor mount with a staff.
At some point on our life journey, we all find ourselves at a roadblock—at a loss as to how to proceed. Many of us respond with frustration and even rage. But what if we could see an angel in the road ahead with his sword drawn and hear his warning that our path was a reckless one? We would likely fall on our knees in gratitude.
When was the last time something interfered with your plans, and you confronted an unwelcome detour? Since God’s Word tells us we must walk through this world by faith and not sight, it’s essential to trust that He is in control when we are thwarted.
Instead of giving way to road rage, thank the Father for loving you enough to prevent a serious mistake. Your detour may take longer, but the discovery at the end will be worth it.
Deborah Meroff served as a missionary writer and photographer for thirty years. While based in London, she was privileged to visit 115 countries, publishing scores of articles as well as a dozen books in different languages. She now resides in Maine, USA.