7.9.25 ~ The Strait Gate Test

Good morning!

Here at the Faith Works health clinic, one of the favorite passages to encourage people into complete health is: "enter the strait gate that leads to life...wide is the gate that leads to destruction" (Matt. 7:13; Lk. 13:24).

In this week's Torah portion, Balak/the devastator or to make waste, Balaam, our villainous heroine, is about to enter the crucible or test of the strait gate on the narrow road (Num. 22:23-28). As with us, the Lord God is about to reveal what is in Balaam's heart. And it is all going to start by the simple Divine Strategy of sending a menacing, relentless angel to cause the prophet’s donkey to turn aside out of the narrow path to Moab that stretched out before him and step off into a field.

How will the renowned man of prophecy respond to this little unplanned detour along the road?  Let’s see what Torah says.

When the donkey saw the Holy One's angel standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, the donkey went aside from the road into the field. Balaam beat the donkey to get it back on the road. (Numbers 22:23)

Balaam’s response to the first test in the crucible of the strait gate and the narrow road:  yank hard on the reins, draw back the right hand, and administer a sharp backhand blow to the exposed face of the donkey!  
Hmmmn.

Note that the prophet only sees what Yahweh allows him to see.  In most regards he is totally blind to what is going on in the spiritual world around him, because his mind is elsewhere.

As we've learned together, over the years, it's important to put yourself in the 'lives' of the characters within the narrative. Hence, not one of us is better than Balaam in this regard.  I am not. Neither are you. Neither is the most anointed rabbi or preacher. And neither is any other man or woman you or I will ever meet. We all have it within our yetzer hara to respond to the strait and narrow crucible inappropriately. However, I glory in the Lord over so many of your lives that do respond correctly...thank you for modeling!

Let’s continue the narrative – and let Balaam’s little trial by ordeal play itself out a little further. The persistent angel next takes up a position squarely in Balaam’s path at a place where the road leading to Canaan passed between two walled vineyards.

When the donkey saw the Holy One's angel, it edged over to the side smashing Balaam's foot against the wall And (Balaam) beat it (the donkey) even more. (Numbers 22:24-25)

The crucible is getting more narrow by the minute. How does he respond to the strait gate component of the test? Pull even harder on the reins, make a tight fist, and beat the donkey again – a little harder and a little longer this time.

Okay let’s not be hasty.  Everybody can have a bad day. Let’s give Balaam a little slack.  How about one more chance?

No problem.  Read on:

The Holy One's angel continued ahead (of Balaam) and he stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn right or left. When the donkey saw the Holy One's angel, it lay down refusing to budge for Balaam. Bila’am lost his temper, and beat the donkey with a stick. (Numbers 22:26-27)

Balaam’s response to the third test of the narrow road crucible:  Blow a fuse, get a stick . . . and beat the donkey one more time . . . with feeling.

You've probably heard it said, "The ultimate act of arrogance and insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

I'm definitely not minimizing Balaam's failure during this strait and narrow test. Yet, I can't help but look back on my past life and say, 'oops, that was me.' The real question for me to ask on this 39th day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine is, "Have I learned anything from Balaam's failure"?

Shalom,
Alan

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