Balaam and the Donkey

Balaam & the Donkey

 by Daphne M. Self

But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.  Numbers 22:22-23 NIV

Have you ever imagined what the family cat might say if she had to share her gourmet dinner with the family dog? What would the family dog say if he had to share his daily bowl of canned food with the cat?

Today animals only talk in the movies, but long ago God made Balaam’s donkey speak.

God told Balaam not to go see the King. Balaam disobeyed God. He rode on his donkey to see the King. Soon an angel appeared. Balaam did not see this angel, but the donkey did. When she stopped, Balaam hit her and made her walk down the road. The angel appeared again. The donkey stopped. Balaam hit her and made her walk.

Once again, the angel appeared. This time the donkey laid down. Balaam hit her. He wanted her to take him to the King.

She turned to Balaam. “What have I done to make you hit me three times?”

Balaam was mad at her because she would not take him to the King.

God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel. Then the angel asked him, “Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong.”

Sometimes, in our anger, we want to disobey God. Even though we may not see what is in front of us, God can. Like Balaam’s donkey, God wants to protect us and keep us safe.

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

 

Daphne Self is the author of Mississippi Nights under the name D.M. Webb, and lives in northern Mississippi with her husband, sons, and a variety of pets. With a vivid imagination she yearns to tells stories and create new worlds through words. She’s an active member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).