Introduction

Defining spiritual foresight

‘Foresight’ is not prophecy or prediction. Instead, it is an action that helps us build the future and consider it something we can create or shape.   Foresight is a medium to long-term vision-building process, and there can be more than one outcome.

God promises us wisdom if we delight in His instruction and follow His lead. His Word is the lamp that lights our path. 

Spiritual foresight, therefore, differs from worldly foresight. It is the action of trusting God’s plan. We need not know what will happen tomorrow or the week after. We can wait on God’s timing and act according to His teaching.

Balaam and the donkey

‘Reckless and self-centered.’

In Numbers 22, we encounter the story of Balaam.   The story has significant parallels with our time and should give us insight. The way Balaam approaches God is often the way we do too. 

Balaam was, what was called, a Baru. He considered himself a follower of every god, and he would cast spells for any god. Balaam was like a multiculturalist today, tolerant of many religions. He attempted to be spiritual without being religious – embracing all ways to live. 

We encounter an excellent summary of who Balaam was from 2 Peter 2:15-16. Peter’s subject matter is ‘False Teachers.’  Verse 15 says that Balaam loved ‘the wages of unrighteousness.’  

He did not consider God, nor the truth.   He was reckless, self-centered, and always looking out for his own advantage, not considering any long-term consequences for his actions. Balaam was an evil character, hiding behind an effective façade. 

In the New International Version of the Bible, Numbers 22:32 states that Balaam’s path was ‘reckless’ before the Lord.  God Himself called it ‘perverse.’ The Hebrew word ‘yarat’ means to ‘push headlong’ and ‘do without thinking.’   Balaam had no foresight and spared no thought about the consequences of what he was doing.

Doing the right thing.

A wise man looks ahead and scouts the pitfalls ahead.  He wants to see where he is going to land and if it is good.   This is spiritual foresight.   In the story, the donkey stands for those with spiritual foresight and those who can see God at work. 

What does the donkey do? 

She responds to God’s direction, although Balaam hits her for her obedience.   In the end, God said that He had not carried out His sentence on Balaam for the donkey’s sake.   (We serve the same purpose – if we have spiritual foresight and walk in the ways God wants us to, we are the ‘salt of the earth’ – the preservative in this world.)

Conclusion: The lessons we can learn from Balaam.

Stop and see what you’re doing.

God stood in Balaam’s way because what he was doing was wrong. Eventually, He opened Balaam’s eyes so that he could see he was wrong.  

We all stray. God often places obstacles in our path when we walk off the way He has determined for us.   God can use circumstances to show us, people, or the Bible.   He wants us to return to Him and open our eyes to His love, care, and provision.   

Conclusion

‘Wisdom can save us.’

If we are sensible, we need to be aware of where we are going and our eventual destination.   This is spiritual foresight. If we don’t have it, we will suffer because of our poor choices.

But wisdom can save us, in the beautiful words of Proverbs 2:12.

This we get from God and His Word. Spiritual understanding and foresight, combined with spiritual action, will take us to all God wants to bless us with.   It is something worthy of striving for!

Introduction

Defining spiritual foresight

‘Foresight’ is not prophecy or prediction. Instead, it is an action that helps us build the future and consider it something we can create or shape.   Foresight is a medium to long-term vision-building process, and there can be more than one outcome.

God promises us wisdom if we delight in His instruction and follow His lead. His Word is the lamp that lights our path. 

Spiritual foresight, therefore, differs from worldly foresight. It is the action of trusting God’s plan. We need not know what will happen tomorrow or the week after. We can wait on God’s timing and act according to His teaching.

Balaam and the donkey

‘Reckless and self-centered.’

In Numbers 22, we encounter the story of Balaam.   The story has significant parallels with our time and should give us insight. The way Balaam approaches God is often the way we do too. 

Balaam was, what was called, a Baru. He considered himself a follower of every god, and he would cast spells for any god. Balaam was like a multiculturalist today, tolerant of many religions. He attempted to be spiritual without being religious – embracing all ways to live. 

We encounter an excellent summary of who Balaam was from 2 Peter 2:15-16. Peter’s subject matter is ‘False Teachers.’  Verse 15 says that Balaam loved ‘the wages of unrighteousness.’  

He did not consider God, nor the truth.   He was reckless, self-centered, and always looking out for his own advantage, not considering any long-term consequences for his actions. Balaam was an evil character, hiding behind an effective façade. 

In the New International Version of the Bible, Numbers 22:32 states that Balaam’s path was ‘reckless’ before the Lord.  God Himself called it ‘perverse.’ The Hebrew word ‘yarat’ means to ‘push headlong’ and ‘do without thinking.’   Balaam had no foresight and spared no thought about the consequences of what he was doing.

Doing the right thing.

A wise man looks ahead and scouts the pitfalls ahead.  He wants to see where he is going to land and if it is good.   This is spiritual foresight.   In the story, the donkey stands for those with spiritual foresight and those who can see God at work. 

What does the donkey do? 

She responds to God’s direction, although Balaam hits her for her obedience.   In the end, God said that He had not carried out His sentence on Balaam for the donkey’s sake.   (We serve the same purpose – if we have spiritual foresight and walk in the ways God wants us to, we are the ‘salt of the earth’ – the preservative in this world.)

Conclusion: The lessons we can learn from Balaam.

Stop and see what you’re doing.

God stood in Balaam’s way because what he was doing was wrong. Eventually, He opened Balaam’s eyes so that he could see he was wrong.  

We all stray. God often places obstacles in our path when we walk off the way He has determined for us.   God can use circumstances to show us, people, or the Bible.   He wants us to return to Him and open our eyes to His love, care, and provision.   

Conclusion

‘Wisdom can save us.’

If we are sensible, we need to be aware of where we are going and our eventual destination.   This is spiritual foresight. If we don’t have it, we will suffer because of our poor choices.

But wisdom can save us, in the beautiful words of Proverbs 2:12.

This we get from God and His Word. Spiritual understanding and foresight, combined with spiritual action, will take us to all God wants to bless us with.   It is something worthy of striving for!