From the Mouth of a Donkey [Numbers 22]


 2Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. 4Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 6"Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

22But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. 28And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you  me these three times?"

 

If you haven't read the whole chapter today, you really should so you can have the whole story. (Just click to Daily Reading)  Two things piqued my interest today. The first thing was that Balaam was from Midian and he was a man who worshiped the true God.  He didn't even know who the children of Israel were until his conversation with God.  Do you understand the significance of this?  How did he know God?  It confirms for me that even though God was making Himself known specifically to Abraham, Issac and Jacob's people, He was also at work in individuals in other places in the world. 

 

The other thing that caught my attention today is that God is perfectly fine to use animals for His work.  You have to read Balaam's response and the rest of that conversation.  God went to a lot of effort to make sure that Balaam didn't go for the wrong motives. "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." v.35.

 

We offer praise to the God who is not limited in the way He works.  God, You are so committed to us that You will use incredible ways to get our attention.  Thank You for Your deep love for us.

Verna McCrillis, 7/30/2010