Thursday, March 01, 2012

A Man, a Donkey, and the Lord

Are you familiar with the biblical story of Balaam's donkey? The king of Moab was a guy named Balak. He had watched the Hebrew people rout his neighbors and was afraid they might do the same to his and his people. So Balak called for Balaam because he knew that a curse upon the Hebrews from Balaam would end the uprising. God spoke to Balaam during the night telling him to speak only God's words to Balak.

When Balaam went with Balak's messengers the next morning, the angel of the Lord appeared in the middle of the road to block his path. Only Balaam's donkey saw the Lord - Balaam and the messengers did not. The donkey turned off the road into a field.

After Balaam got the donkey back on track they continued on. The Lord again appeared along a narrow path between rock walls. The donkey crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey.

Once more headed down the path, the Lord appears a third time and the donkey laid down in the road. Balaam was angry and began to beat the donkey. Then something amazing happened. God opened the mouth of the donkey, it turned its head, and spoke to Balaam: "Why are you beating me?"

Then something REALLY amazing happened: Balaam spoke back to the donkey! The Bible records no reaction of surprise or fear. He just talked back. They had a conversation just like two people who had a dispute. But this was a man and a donkey!

Do you sometimes let your emotions get in the way of seeing what God is doing?

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