The King and the Donkey

Just been reading the Bible in Numbers 22 about a bloke called Balaam - quite THE guy!

Well worth the read if you can - really interesting.

Anyway, it turns out that the Israelites had traveled through the plains of Moab and camped across the Jordan River, across from Jericho, with full attention to taking over the land.

So the story of what happens next is amazing in itself  - it's about Balaam and a talking donkey. It's both jaw-dropping and a tad humorous and also heart-warming to a degree as well.

Here we have the King of Moab by the name of Balak, who was terrified of the army of Israel camped on his doorstep - don't blame him, really, I think I would be terrified as well.

So in his kingly wisdom, he thinks he would be able to summon a soothsayer or a person with so-called wisdom to come and put a curse on the people out there so that they will flee away and not come back, or they will all die a horrible and unseeming death.

You know - how many times have we wondered what we can do to make barriers between people who worry us? I guess in lots of ways we all have people who worry us. Some people and their actions can really get to us, and we find we need some sort of powerful way to regain our control over our anxiety by establishing healthy boundaries or space between ourselves and others.

Certain people, when mixed together, create a volatile match, so hopefully, this doesn't happen to us regularly, but sometimes we really do need to set boundaries and avoid physical contact.

And so this is exactly how the King of Moab felt when he saw the Israeli army camping outside his city - a bit of a shock!

Hence, the messengers sent to Balaam the soothsayer and mystic said, "Come and put a curse on the Israeli army out there." I can imagine what he was thinking- something along these lines - "I could do this and gain a lot of extra $$ if I do what the King commands - even if I don't do exactly what he says."

There were a few comings and goings, but finally, Balaam got on his donkey and off he went, with all these secret ideas swimming around in his head!

Sometimes we have to be very careful when we take off to say things and do things to or for others. We really do have to make sure that our intentions are good and honourable. Not like Balaam.

So Balaam hops on his beloved donkey, apparently, he's had for quite a while, and heads off to put some sort of curse or apparition on the enemy army. Looks good to Balaam - he has his special motive up his sleeve, all working out for him. Off he goes on his donkey with two servants with him.

Suddenly, the donkey turns off the road and ends up in a field all because being wiser than Balaam, the donkey can see an angel standing in front armed with a drawn sword ready to spiflicate good old Balaam if he proceeds any further.

Balaam is furious with the donkey and whacks it with a stick or some such instrument. Poor donkey!

Poor old donkey gets back on the road and makes its way to a narrow path through the vineyards with walls on each side. The angel then moves in front of the donkey, who obviously gets shocked and presses close to the wall and crushes Balaam's foot - you can imagine the "AAHH" coming from Balaam, who in turn beats the good old donkey again with the stick.

The angel moves again, to another narrow place - the donkey, this time, lies down, he's had enough - he doesn't want to die. Balaam is furious and beats the poor animal. Suddenly, the donkey speaks up (you can imagine Balaam's shock), "What have I done that has made you beat me these three times?"

Balaam answered the donkey (as you would, I guess), "You have made a fool of me - If I had a sword, I would kill you." The donkey replied (as they do), "I'm your donkey, I've never been in the habit of doing this." Suddenly, an angel appeared, and old Balaam suddenly realised what it was all about.

And so the story goes on - how Balaam meant to curse Israel but instead blessed them not once but twice.

It's worth the read - try it.

God can use amazing things to influence us in so many ways - even the other day, when Sue and I were walking along the beach together, we were gobsmacked by just how amazing God's creation is. It's astounding, isn't it?

Balaam must have been astounded when the donkey spoke - it didn't say anything about it in the passage, but I can imagine his surprise - Just like our surprise when things sometimes backfire on us or astound us in so many ways.

Before I personally became a Christian, I was so absorbed in my own welfare and how the world revolved around me and my desires. I am totally in awe of how God changed entirely after He came and took residence in my life.

God changed me so much - firstly, I could see others in so many different ways - I now can't help but put others first, which in itself is quite amazing, especially for a person like myself, someone who was always thinking of themselves. I changed so much that it was quite unbelievable.

Secondly, I had a huge desire to help and assist other people in even small ways - something that I never wanted to do at all. I was so self-centred, it is so embarrassing to look back.

God can change you - if He can change me, He can change anyone. 

How does He change us? By us coming to Him and asking Him to come into our lives and lead us.

Pray this prayer to ask Him into your life

Dear Lord, I confess that I am a sinner and need your absolute forgiveness. I truly believe that Jesus died for my sins and, amazingly, He rose again. Please come into my life and be my Lord. Amen

If you truly from your heart prayed this prayer Jesus will come into your life straight away. You will change- we all continue to make mistakes, but God will always, through His Holy Spirit, keep bringing us back to repentance.

God bless you this week. Keep your eyes on our Lord and keep looking to Him.