God preventing our evil actions

The story of Balaam (chapters 22-24 of Numbers) is fascinating on many different levels. But in this post, I'd like to focus on one small piece of that story.

In chapter 22, Balaam is riding his donkey to a place where he'll be able to curse the Israelites. During that journey, an "angel of the LORD" stands in the path of the donkey to prevent its passing. The donkey sees the angel, but Balaam does not. When the donkey stops moving, Balaam become irate and hits the donkey.

Finally, the angel reveals himself to Balaam, and explains why the donkey's path has been blocked (Numbers 22:32, KJV),

I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.

This passage seems to imply that, although we occasionally sin, and although we pay the consequences for those sins, there are other sins that we never commit, because God prevents us from committing those sins. If not for God standing in our way, we'd be even worse than we are!

Recognizing how deeply ensconced in sin we really are can be depressing! How to respond? Two verses later (Numbers 22:34, KJV), Balaam responds,

I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me.

Subsequent parts of the Bible speak to Balaam's complex legacy. But at least on this one occasion, he appears to confess his sin and humble himself. Let us aim to do likewise.