Fixed vs Growth: The Obstacle of Flaming Swords

God in Christ has removed all barriers between us and Him.  Our sin is forgiven.  The temple curtain is torn (Matthew 27:51) and we have access to God through Christ (Ephesians 2: 18).  Not even death can separate us from God’s love for us.  Does this mean that any and all obstacles will melt away before us?  That everything we set our minds and hearts on will be granted us?  Is God like a benevolent and powerful fairy-godmother, waving a magic wand over our dress of rags and sending us to the ball in a coach fashioned from a pumpkin?  Our wish is His command, like a genie in a lamp?  Or are there certain obstacles that we can still expect?

The ultimate goal of God is and always will be the salvation of souls, the redemption of the world.  It is unreasonable and unbiblical to expect that every obstacle in the way of our human goals or self-appointed happiness will be removed by God.  Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).  A human goal that is not in line with His will and divine plan will face obstacles, and those obstacles will not be overcome with divine aide.  In many instances, our human goals are selfish or sinful; or simply foolish, poorly conceived and with consequences we do not consider.  God, out of His infinite love, His omnipotence and omniscience, “works all things together for good”—He appears to deny help in the face of obstacles, but is instead weaving together a complex good that is in line with His will, furthers His Kingdom and is best for each of His children.  God may even place obstacles in our paths as part of working things together for good.

Consider again the story of the Fall.  Adam and Eve were banished from the blessed Garden of Eden, clothed in the skins of the first sacrificed animals to cover their nakedness, sin and shame.  God placed a cherubim with a flaming, flashing sword to guard the way between sinful humanity and the Tree of Life.  This placement of an angelic barrier prevented Adam and Eve or any sinful human descendant from eating fruit from the Tree of Life and living forever in a corrupted state.  Instead, God originated a complex, multi-generational, Personally painful and costly plan to redeem humanity from sin.  He sent Christ as the New Adam, to live a perfect life in our place; and to die our death on the Tree, His cross.    Forgiven and free from sin, we are offered access to the Tree of Life by the power of the resurrected Christ and given an inheritance in Heaven forever with God.  Revelation 22 describes Heaven, where we live eternally with Christ the Lamb and in God’s presence and are blessed to partake of the Tree of Life.  The obstacle of that cherubim between humanity and the Tree of Life represented God’s mercy and His ability to bring about His good in even the worst situation.  The obstacle to the Tree of Life was not permanent; instead, it reinforced God’s perfect timing and His perfect planning.

We can read again about an angel with a flaming sword in Numbers 22.  This is a strange story, involving not just an angel with a flaming sword but a talking donkey.  Balaam was a prophet of God.  Balak was king of Moab who wanted victory over the Israelites who threatened his kingdom in their advance to the Promised Land.  Balak sent servants to offer money to pay Balaam to curse the Israelites; God told Balaam to go with the servants, but to only do what He commanded.  En route to curse the Israelites, Balaam’s donkey starts behaving erratically, turning off of the road into a field, crushing Balaams’ foot against a wall and laying down underneath Balaam.  This leads the frustrated Balaam to beat his poor donkey.  God allowed the donkey to speak and she chastised Balaam for beating her, she who had always been an obedient animal.  God then opens Balaam’s eyes to see the angel with the flaming sword which He has placed in Balaam’s path and which the donkey had seen from the beginning.  In Numbers 22: 32, the angel of the Lord says to Balaam “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.”  Balaam (temporarily) repents of his sin, both of beating the donkey and of taking a path which displeased God, an ungodly path inspired by greed instead of obedience to God.  God tells Balaam to go forward and speak only the words he is given—and he blesses instead of curses the Israelites, to Balak’s dismay.  

a.       Review the story of Balaam in Numbers 22.

b.      Consider the words of the angel to Balaam:  your path is a reckless one.  Are there obstacles in your path because you have chosen a reckless, disobedient, ungodly path?  Are there people who have tried to warn you—like Balaam’s donkey—whom you have disregarded or even abused for their faithful warning?

c.       Consider the angel with the flaming sword in Eden, guarding the Tree of Life.  Are there obstacles in your life because God’s timing is different, or because He has a better—more complex, more long-range—plan for you?

d.      Some obstacles are angels with flaming swords.  They are for our good.  How does this influence your perspective on the obstacles in your life?