Don’t blame the donkey

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
08/11/24 - General

When God made a donkey talk, it wasn't just to stun Balaam. Or to entertain us.

At first reading did you marvel or maybe laugh when a donkey ran into a wall and then sat down, causing Balaam to hit the donkey and the donkey to respond? "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?' And Balaam said to the donkey, 'Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!' So the donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?' And he said, 'No.' Then the lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face." (Numbers 22:28-31)

Are we too blind to see the warnings God gives us just as Balaam was too blind to see the dangers that stood in front of him though the donkey did in Numbers 22:22-24? These days rather than a donkey, God speaks to us through the Bible. Christians can warn others just as Peter did in Acts 2:40 -- "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' " But we have been told that some will not follow this warning: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

Too often the confrontation between Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22 is repeated today in what we now call shooting the messenger. Instead of striking a donkey, people say others are haters when we reference 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 which says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." Just as the innocent donkey was abused by Balaam, Christians can face reactions described in 1 Peter 4:4 -- "In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you."

If the Angel of the Lord is to stand for the donkey, surely God will defend His word as was the case in Numbers 22:33 -- "The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."

If you are traveling a sinful path, do not blame the messenger speaking God's word. Have the response shown in Numbers 22:34 -- "And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, 'I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.’ "

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)