The Donkey Talks

Road Blocks

Somewhere in time, around the time of Moses, there live a man named Balaam.  Balaam was not an Israelite, but he still talked to God.  As the Israelites moved through the desert on the way to the Promised Land, they experienced some opposition.  Some countries let them pass through, others resisted. The ones that resisted usually ended up in a battle and they usually lost the battle.  This story is found in the book of Numbers, and it begins in chapter 22.  The Israelites where camped along the Jordan River, across from Jericho. The Moabites inhabited the land and they were concerned that the Israelites would over run them like they did the Amorites. Instead of direct conflict, Moab choses a different approach and Balaam enters the story.

In case you are wondering, I started thinking about this story this week.  I started thinking about all the plans we make.  Sometimes God blocks our path.  He blocks our path because he loves us and he is trying to keep us from making a mistake.  Sometimes he lets us continue on our fool hardy way, only to come behind us and pick of the pieces our shattered lives.  God uses everything that happens to us to create us to be the people he wants us to be.  Bad things happen, but God still uses them.  He doesn’t cause them, but he uses them.

Many times, our best laid plans don’t work out because we forget to touch base with God and get his ideas on a subject.  He will give guidance if we ask.  That got me thinking about Balaam. If ever a man had his plans changed, it was him.

The King of Moab sent a delegation to Balaam requesting that he come and curse the Israelites. He gives them a place to stay for the night and leaves to think it over.  God comes to Balaam and tells him not to put a curse on the people, because they are blessed, so Balaam refuses to go with them.  The Moabites don’t stop, as they send more delegates, more important or influential than the first.  This time God tells him to go with the men. He just gives strict instructions, not to say anything unless it comes from God.

As Balaam is traveling, his Donkey starts behaving differently and this confuses Balaam.  On one occasion, he leaves the road and runs out into a field.  The next time, the donkey presses so hard to a wall, that it crushes Balaam’s leg against the wall.  The third time, the donkey just lays down.  Balaam’s response to each event is to beat his donkey into submission.  Never a good choice if you ask me. In case you were wondering, the donkey is seeing the angel of the Lord with a drawn sword.  The Donkey sees what Balaam can’t and does it’s best to avoid it.

Here is my question, why would God block his path when he clearly told him to go with the men.  I have an idea.  If you are anything like me, when you have a goal to accomplish or a job to finish, you start thinking of how you will carry it out.  God told Balaam that he, God, would give Balaam the words.  In my opinion, Balaam was rehearsing his speech.  The men, after all, wanted him to curse Israel.  That was not God’s plan, so he placed an angel in the way. 

This is my favorite part of the story.

Numbers 28:31 (NIV) “ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam. “What have I done to you to make you beat me three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool out of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you right now!” The donkey said to Balaam “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed and fell facedown.”

God really wanted Balaam to stop on the journey he was on.  He opened the mouth of a donkey to do it.  You may be going down a path and hitting road block after road block.  Instead of fighting it, perhaps it’s time to stop, step back and search out your surroundings.  Perhaps God is sending you a message.

With Balaam, God tells him again that He will give him the words.  Reminding him he doesn’t need to prepare a speech or a statement, the words will come from God when they are needed.  So Balaam continues on, I’m sure he was more humble and willing to listen by this point.  Instead of cursing the people of Israel, he called down blessings on them.  God would not allow his people to be cursed. 

As a child of God, I am glad he has my back.  He is watching out to make sure I’m blessed and not cursed.  You are too, so rejoice.

On the flip side, think about the Moabites, they hired a man to do a job.  To curse a people, but their plan backfired.  Why do you think that is?