If a donkey speaks...

Number 22: 18 And Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry here again tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me. 20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do. 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way. 24 But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it, and he struck her again. 26 And the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times? 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have ridiculed and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you! 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No. 31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? See, I came out to stand against and resist you, for your behavior is willfully obstinate and contrary before Me. 33 And the donkey saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely I would have slain you and saved her alive. 34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will return. 35 The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (ASV)
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Balaam was a conjurer, and would do anything to make money. He was not a very nice person. He was being paid to do a deed to GOD'S chosen people. He seizes the opportunity using GOD'S WORD, thinking he is doing the right thing with GOD'S blessing, and yet he is seeing this as an opportunity to gain worldy goods. In a vision or a dream, GOD tells Balaam not to curse Israel. Balaam agrees with the LORD, but instead decides that he is going through with his plans anyway. He probably thought, what is this really going to hurt... GOD sees that Balaam is not honoring his agreement, so GOD sends an Angel to stop Balaam. Balaam cannot see the angel, but his donkey can see the Angel, and is afraid. Three times the donkey tries to turn away, and 3 times Balaam smites the animal for disobeying him.

Then something miraculous happens. Sometimes GOD wants you to listen to what HE is saying, but you are not listening. HE goes and puts an angel in your path, but you are blind and cannot see the angel is there. The miracle was that the Donkey spoke! See verse 28! GOD wanted to get Balaam's attention and wasted no time to get his attention.

vs. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?


Balaam was now having a conversation with his donkey...who he thinks is mocking him. He didn't get that GOD was allowing the donkey to speak.

vs. 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No.

The Donkey was asking Balaam haven't I always served your best interest...from the first day that you owned me until now. Balaam stll doesn't get this message. He doesn't see the miracle taking place before him.

Then GOD opens Balaams eyes and for the first time he sees the angel standing in front of him...this is when Balaam becomes fearful!

vs. 31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell on his face.

The Angel of the LORD continues by speaking to Balaam about his situation...

vs. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? See, I came out to stand against and resist you, for your behavior is willfully obstinate and contrary before Me. 33 And the donkey saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely I would have slain you and saved her alive.

Balaam must have felt pretty low at this point. Much like we do when we are outside GOD'S WORD. As a matter of fact, Balaam realizes that he has sinned against GOD and repents.

What are some life lessons for us?

I think what draws me to this passage over and over, is that when we think we are in HIS WILL, but really have one foot in the worldly things, we often miss GOD SPEAKING to us. HE desires our full attention, and will use unusual things to get our attention.

This is one place where we find GOD' anger was kindled. Why? Because HE was Speaking and yet, Balaam did what he agreed not to do.

vs. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him.

What the Bible tells us:

2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

2 Chronicles 19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

Isaiah 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isaiah 2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isaiah 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.



HIS communication with is is important. The dialogue should be perpetual with his children...We should fear his judgements, but love the LORD because HE leads us always in goodness and mercy. Our fear of HIM is refining us.

Are we like Balaam in that we keep one foot in the world and one eye on GOD? GOD is a jealous GOD, so are we putting idols in front of our worshiping HIM?

Is this not the delusion that many have concerning salvation? They 'think' they are saved. They 'think' that they can continue with old habbits. They 'think' they know the LORD. They 'think' that they can mix the WORD with the world, and it is okay...I am seeing a lot of this lately. They think that it is okay to continue in something that they know isn't right. They are leading themselves too trust in a false security.

The LORD wants our full attention. Not just a part of us, or just when we want something, or when we can find the time, to comune with HIM.

Yes, I believe that there is more to this message of a donkey speaks.

Something struck me that Balaam knew the LORD's Voice. While he was in sin, he still recognised GOD'S voice...yet he chose to lie to the LORD, and continue in his sin, for worldly profit.

In continuing my study I found in 2 Peter 2:16 reference to this beast of burden that belonged to Balaam.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way. 4 For God did not spare even the angels when they sinned; he threw them into hell, in gloomy caves and darkness until the judgment day. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and his family of seven. Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. Then God destroyed the whole world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, he turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into heaps of ashes and swept them off the face of the earth. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But at the same time, God rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a good man who was sick of all the immorality and wickedness around him. 8 Yes, he was a righteous man who was distressed by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while punishing the wicked right up until the day of judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own evil, lustful desires and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at the glorious ones without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, even though they are far greater in power and strength than these false teachers, never speak out disrespectfully against the glorious ones. 12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, who are born to be caught and killed. They laugh at the terrifying powers they know so little about, and they will be destroyed along with them. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They revel in deceitfulness while they feast with you. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their lust is never satisfied. They make a game of luring unstable people into sin. They train themselves to be greedy; they are doomed and cursed. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice. 17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs of water or as clouds blown away by the wind—promising much and delivering nothing. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With lustful desire as their bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them. 22 They make these proverbs come true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and "A washed pig returns to the mud." (NLT)

It is when the enemy attacks that we often turn to GOD. This is also a part of the Donkey Speaks. HE tries to get our full attention, but we often are "busy" and say, "yes LORD", but we don't mean what we say to HIM. It is like brushing someone off that annoys us.

Balaam didn't see the miracle of his salvation by the donkey speaking...He didin't know that death was awaiting him. He couldn't see the angel standing in front of him with a sword drawn. He blamed the donkey for not obeying him, when in reality the donkey saved his life.

Only when we become broken and carry the burdens HE places upon us, do we understand the differences of " HIS will" verses "our will".

We often want to do things our way. Our way is never the best way. The LORD spoke a WORD to Balaam in a dream or a vision. Balaam at the time was in complete agreement. However by morning, Balaam changed his mind. He was going to do this his way, and make a profit.

This reminds me of these verses...

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

We are reminided in HIS WORD...

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

LORD, Please help us understand and learn the lessons of the Donkey that Talked. Let us not reason as a man reasons but let us be attentive to YOUR WORD. LORD, Help us to understand your ways are always best for us! Thank you LORD for giving us the Holy Spirit to help guide us continually towards your ways for us. In JESUS NAME, AMEN.

Just imagine the tale of Balaam, "IF" the donkey never spoke, "IF" the donkey obeyed the man and kept going..."IF the angel did indeed smite Balaam with the sword.

Which was better for Balaam?