Read Numbers 22:1-40
What an exciting time in the history of God’s people. They didn’t know how close they were to entering the Promised Land. Taking root in Canaan was such a victory for them, yet simply a stepping-stone, one of the blessings they had experienced. Their time in the wilderness proves God never leaves his people when they cry out to him.
After being turned away from Edom, their only other choice to get to the Promised Land involves Moab. It’s not surprising we would meet up with Moab’s king. As the story goes, Balak, the Moabite king, was using Balaam to get control of the hoard of people coming his way with a curse. God knew that Balak would want to destroy them, not help them, so it makes sense God protects them in this way.
I don’t know why we had to hear the story about the poor donkey’s fate at the cruel hands of Balaam, but it speaks a very loud message. God sees everything, and He had had enough with Balaam’s treatment of this donkey to the point of rescuing the donkey with this miracle. Can you imagine hearing your animal speak to you!
Balaam’s intentions seemed good in that he was listening to God. But what God? Was it our God, the God of Jacob and the covenant people, Israel? How would someone living in this region know our God? There has to be some connection, but I don’t know if we’ll ever know.
We don’t get a lot of information about Balaam, like lineage other than his native land “Pethor,” but enough to know he was revered by Moab’s king. Would he be able or willing to help the king? Presumably as a “diviner” or something like that who could put on a curse or even a blessing. While very popular in that day, it was a sinful profession according to the laws of the chosen people. It’s hard to imagine what God Balaam referred to, other than he called him by name, the “LORD my God.”
In my eyes, Balaam was a mean, spirited man. Who would have done such a thing to his own donkey of so many years. Didn’t he realize the poor donkey was trying to communicate something to him. Donkeys have limits, usually. Balaam was too blind to see God’s message coming to him. Sometimes we’re just as blind, or maybe it’s because we’re not looking.
When Balaam could finally see what the donkey was telling him was there, he was restored to his senses. Balaam knew God had blessed these people. They were indeed chosen. Imagine what it felt like to realize that the king of your region was asking you to curse a people God had told you was blessed. The curse would never work. It was a waste to even try. Balaam was confused but now waiting on God.
There’s so much richness to this story of a very real time happening to the people God had rescued from Egypt all those years ago. What spoke to you as most relevant for today. Think on the beauty of how God’s word continues to speak to us.
Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for how you always know exactly what we need before we need it. Just like you provided for the Israelites, I know you do that for me, too. Right now I feel a little depleted but on the edge of something amazing. I trust you are leading the way and orchestrating our every move. Thanks for giving that donkey a break, too, that was surprising. Thank you for loving us all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
