Numbers 22:1-24:25
Numbers 22:21-23, 28, "So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so He sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. ... Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. ‘What have I done that it deserves your beating me three times?' It asked Balaam."
Isn't it ironic that a donkey was more spiritually perceptive than Balaam, the prophet? Pride, self-importance, and money seemed to throw this wayward servant of God off-track. He knew the Lord didn't want him to go to Moab and curse His chosen people and, at first, he obeyed. But deep down, he really desired to go and so he compromised. He tried to buy time to see if God would change His mind, and God even said, "Go!" But God had a plan of His own to get Balaam back on track!
Isn't it just like God to use the most unlikely of sources to teach us valuable lessons? Balaam's faithful donkey saw the angel of the Lord wielding a sword and tried to steer his master off the roadway. The animal had enough sense to know that it wanted no part of that run-in! Balaam, initially blind to the situation, took it out on the poor animal. As God opened the donkey's mouth to speak truth into the situation, the prophet had to humble himself - and the donkey got the best of him in the conversation!
What can we learn from Balaam's donkey? First, when God asks us to do something, He wants total obedience! Why? Because partial obedience is still disobedience! Also, when we move out of God's will, He often puts roadblocks in our path to steer us back on course. God wants us to live our best lives without compromise or pride. So take a lesson from a donkey and stay on track with God's will, and you WILL be blessed and useful to God in even the strangest of circumstances!
Dear Lord, I seek to obey Your commands. Help me to squash my pride and selfish desires to carry out Your plans for my life. May You be glorified through me! Amen.