March 8, 2023 –
If you’ve studied your Bible, you know the two baffling stories of animals who happen to talk. The first incident is when a snake speaks to Adam and Eve. The second Bible narrative of an animal who talks! Balaam’s donkey. The story begins in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 22.
The pagan prophet Balaam was summoned by Balak, ruler of the Moabites, to come and curse Israel. But Ballam could not curse Israel because the Lord had determined to give them blessings only.
God was against Balaam going to the Moabite ruler, but he started anyway. He knew that by cursing Israel, he would receive great rewards from Balak.
Balaam’s donkey rebuked the prophet by attempting to block Ballack’s journey three times by moving off the road, once bruising his master’s foot. Ballack beat the donkey three times with his rod and urged him to move forward. When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord blocking his forward movement, he lay down under Balaam. Balaam was angry and beat the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 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?”.
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So, he bowed low and fell facedown. The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” (Numbers 22:28b-33 NIV)
When God blocks your way, He could be blocking your path because you are traveling in the wrong direction.