Balaam’s donkey
Numbers 22:27-28 “And when the ass (donkey) saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass (donkey), and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?”
Balaam was a diviner, someone that had been called upon to curse Israel for the Moabites.
But God had already told Balaam that he would not permit him to curse Israel…”for they are blessed”.
But the reward that the king of Moab sent Balaam was a great temptation. The first time they came….he resisted it…and sent them away, saying he could not curse Israel.
But the second time they came….with even greater reward for him (for the king of Moab thought that he was just bargaining)….the temptation was too great.
He asks the Lord….again….if he can go and curse the Israelites. Even though the Lord has already told him that they are blessed….
…and now, the Lord says….”If the men come, rise up, and go with them….but the Word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.”
(Let me just say here, that there are times we are to seek the Lord’s Will, step by step.
But when we, like Balaam, are just trying to “wear out the Lord”….or get Him to change HIs mind….we are in a very dangerous position
We can likely end up, like Balaam, getting an answer from the Lord we want to hear….
….and being corrected for it.)
For this is the story of Balaam’s donkey. God will correct the error of any man who comes to Him for direction….if they go off on their own way.
But the means He uses is varied and sometimes surprising.
I have been corrected by circumstances….by the sudden turn of events….by unbelievers who are just criticizing, yet it can be blessed by God to “get our attention” about the error we are in, or about to enter. (Praise God for it!)
So Balaam begins his journey to wealth and fame (so he thinks)….but he had been warned not to say anything but what the Lord would say to him.
He wasn’t to change the words to fit in to what the king of Moab wanted to hear…but rather say what he heard….for God would not curse Israel.
Now God knows our hearts, and He knew Balaam had his eye solely on the reward.
So God now awakens this man to his duty to Him….
……and God uses a donkey….his donkey.
Numbers 22:22-23 “And God’s anger was kindled because he went:…(in the attitude that he went)…
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went out into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.”
Balaam wasn’t watching….or he would have seen the angel with the sword himself. The only thing that was in Balaam’s eye then….was his reward!
(Matthew 6:22-23 “…thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light….thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness…”)
Number 22:24-27 “But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam:….”
(I love this word….”And the angel of the Lord went further…” How far has the Lord Jesus gone for us!
How many times has He taught the same lesson to us….over and over….till we finally “see” the truth and acknowledge our fault!)
Balaam’s donkey….saved Balaam.
But Balaam….like we are often….saw only something which interfered with getting what we wanted, or what we thought should be.
So God opens the donkey’s mouth and he speaks to Balaam:
“Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?
Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?” (Num. 22:30)
“Have I ever mistreated you, or have gone astray before? Then don’t you think there is something else to this….beside “my” stubbornness? “
Numbers 22:31 “Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and His sword drawn in His hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.”
How does the Lord open our eyes?
Sometimes through a “word in due season”….sometimes through a message, or devotions, or through prayer.
And sometimes, roughly, through trials or pain.
However He makes us aware of our error…or going down the wrong path….when He corrects us, it is in love…so we can come under HIs care again.
The title of this is “Balaam’s donkey”…..and even in the New Testament, Peter acknowledges the role that this animal played. Because however we are awakened to get back into the Way…..it is a blessing.
2 Peter 2:16 “But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”
The Way is narrow….strait and narrow. And when we seek to gain the world and Christ, too….it never works.
Christ Jesus said:
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Mammon is usually considered money….but it is also what it can buy….what prestige it gives….what influence with others.
So the Lord Jesus also says:
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first (here is the key….”seek ye first”) the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 