Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, Psalm 105:4-5 (ESV)
Have you ever wanted to do something that you knew you shouldn’t? Maybe you were headed down a path that seemed good, but it was not the one God had designed for you?
Something like this happened in the Old Testament. Balaam was on his way to see Balak (King of Moab). Balaam had a reputation. Balak says that he knows that whoever Balaam curses is cursed and whoever Balaam blesses is blessed. Balak wants Balaam to curse the Israelite people who are camped out in the plains of Moab, but God does not want Balaam to curse His chosen people because He has already blessed them.
Balaam goes with the princes that have been sent to him from Balak to go to Moab. He is riding his donkey and doesn’t realize that God has set an angel in the way of the path to block him.
And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. Numbers 22:23 (ESV)
Balaam does not have eyes to see what God has allowed the donkey to see, so he hits the donkey.
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Numbers 22:24-25 (ESV)
Balaam feels the pain of the donkey’s opposition to his own wishes and hits him again.
Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Numbers 22:26-27 (ESV)
Embarrassed and frustrated, Balaam hits his donkey a third time.
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” Numbers 22:28 (ESV)
What???? The donkey talks?
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” Numbers 22:29 (ESV)
I seriously do not think that I would have answered back right away (I would have been too shocked), but Balaam is defensive when his donkey calls him out on his behavior.
And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?”
And he said, “No.” Numbers 22:30 (ESV)
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” Numbers 22:31-33 (ESV)
I take away two major lessons from this story:
Number 1:
The Lord used a donkey to protect Balaam and open his eyes to what the Lord was doing.
If God can use a donkey, He can use you and me. You may not feel like you are anything special, but at least you aren’t a complete ass (pardon the pun, and the language).
Number 2:
Balaam routinely talked to God and was known as a prophet who could tell people what God wanted them to do or to know. He was close to God, but still made mistakes and got angry and lashed out. He was blind to what was right in front of him. He belittled and bullied those who did see the truth. He still got defensive when criticized.
Even though I read the bible and try to do what’s right, I make mistakes. I am often blind to what God has placed right in front of me. I push back against what the Lord puts in place to protect me and help me grow. I get defensive when criticized and angry when embarrassed.
But these actions are not the end of my story or your story.
When Balaam gets to Moab, he will not curse the people of God, no matter what Balak promises him or how angry the king gets. He only speaks blessing over God’s people.
No matter how many mistakes we make, we can choose today to do what God wants us to do. We can choose to open our eyes to God’s process to transform us into all he has planned for our good. Sometimes we might still resent the discomfort of change or chafe against the authority that is in place to protect us, but we can work to respond with honor and respect rather than anger.
It was an amazing miracle when God caused that donkey to talk. The real miracle is that God can use each one of us. Even when we act like donkeys, or worse, when we act like Balaam. The Lord has a plan for each of us and if we will say yes, He will work miracles in us and through us. We may not think we are something special, but God says we are.
Action Step: I am listing the impossible things I need that only God could do. Actually putting pen to paper and writing them down. Whether it is for financial provision or healing for my migraines that the doctors can’t explain, I know that where I don’t have the answer, God does. Make your list today.
Every morning, let’s pray down our lists. As God begins to answer the impossible things in our lives, jot it down and date it. It’s time for miracles in each of our lives from the God who still transforms lives.
Dear God, You alone are the God of the impossible. Open our eyes to see what You are doing right in front of us. Help us to adjust to You plans and respond with respect rather than resentment. Expand our faith to believe You are as big as You actually are. In Jesus’ name, amen.