Nancy Hughes: Out of the mouth of ... a donkey

“The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey,
which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I
been in the habit of doing this to you?”
Numbers 22:30 (NIV)

A talking horse . . . who would have thought it! But “Mister Ed,” a popular television show when I was a little girl, used that concept to capture the hearts of thousands of children. The horse – Mister Ed – spoke only to his owner, Wilbur Post.

Throughout the series, there was no explanation offered for Mister Ed being able to speak to Wilbur.

In fact, in the very first episode, when Wilbur stated aloud that he was unable to understand how his horse could talk, Mister Ed offered this bit of wisdom: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”

The Scripture in Numbers 22:30 also involves a conversation with an animal: a donkey. Let me explain. It seems that Balaam, at one time a man of God, was contacted by King Balak of Moab who asked him to curse Israel. The king was afraid of the Israelites because of their large numbers and because he saw what they had done to the Amorites when they came up against them.

The king’s plan was this: find a prophet who would get God to curse the Israelites so that he and his kingdom would be safe from harm. Enter Balaam. King Balak sent princes to Balaam to persuade him to curse the Israelites. Balaam asked them to wait overnight while he got an answer from God.

The next day he gave them God’s answer: “You must not put a curse on these people, because they are blessed.” (verse 12) They left, only to be replaced with other, more distinguished princes who returned with an offer of a substantial reward if he would carry out their request. And what did Balaam do? He went to God again, trying to persuade Him to change His mind.

One would suspect the offer of a reward was surely a big factor in Balaam’s decision. This time the Lord, though angry with Balaam, gave permission for him to go with the men back to King Balak but told him to only do what He, God, told him to do.

That’s where the talking donkey comes in.

As Balaam is riding along the road on his donkey, God placed an angel in his path. Balaam could not see it but the donkey could. Three times the donkey tried to turn from the path and each time Balaam beat her with his staff.

Finally the donkey turned to look at Balaam and spoke. “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” The Lord then allowed Balaam to see the angel in front of him, sword in hand. Had he gone on, Balaam would have been killed. 

 
We have been given the Holy Spirit in our lives to direct our paths. But sometimes we want something so badly that we do not listen as He tells us to take a different path. We need to remember that there are times that God places roadblocks in the path that we are choosing. 

Perhaps, like Balaam, He is trying to protect us. Or it could be that the timing is not yet right for us to go in that direction.

My encouragement today is to listen to the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have been given as we face decisions in our lives. He will direct our pathways every single day.

Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide my decisions each day. Help me to open the ears of my heart to your will for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you ignored the “warning signs” of the Holy Spirit that perhaps your choice was not a wise one?

If you ignored the warnings and went ahead with your plans, what was the outcome? Everything you thought it would be or disappointment?

Apply

Journal decisions that need to be made in your life and the possible answers to those decisions.

During prayer time, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and guide you toward the answers that He has for you. Listen for His guidance through the Word.

Power

Numbers 22:30 (NIV) “The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

John 8:47 (NIV) “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Ezekiel 3:10 (NIV) “And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)