Week 1: Listening to the Good Shepherd
Listen and Walk in His Ways
Week 1, Day 4
The Good Shepherd is a guide for the sheep. We sheep cannot find pasture or still waters on our own. And when we try to find our own path or make our own way, we get into trouble and sadden God.
Psalm 81:13 (ESV)
Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
God often laments that His sheep do not listen or walk in His ways. We tend to want to do things on our own. We are stubborn. And even if we started out listening, we try to change God’s message to fit our own agenda, like Balaam. And when we refuse to listen, we become blind, again like Balaam.
Sheep. Donkeys. God will use any animal or anything in our path to illustrate His point and remind us to listen. Because left to our own devices, desires, and design, we are asking for trouble and headed toward destruction. It really is wisest to listen to God the first time and to choose to walk in His ways.
In summary of the story, Balak, king of Moab, is fearful of the Israelites. He recognizes that they are a protected and numerous people. So, he sends the following message to Balaam, a prophet of God (Num. 22:5b-6, ESV).
5b “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
Balaam hears the message and consults with God (after God initiates the conversation, Num. 22:12-13, ESV).
12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
Did Balaam listen to what God said?
Did Balaam change the message? How so or how not?
Read Numbers 22—24. It may appear to be a long passage, but the narrative of this story is rich with application for our listening to the Good Shepherd.
How did Balaam do with his listening?
How did Balak do with his listening?
What do we learn from this story and our listening practices?
What does it mean to listen to the voice of God—above all our own thoughts and desires?
Numbers 23:19 (ESV)
19 God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Additional notes, drawings, or thoughts from listening to the Good Shepherd today:
We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.
This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.