Numbers 22:28 –
Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.
This is one of those funny stories in the Bible, how God talks through a donkey. Balaam is so upset at the donkey he continues the discussion, not asking how he can speak. People love this since they use one of the most unlikely animals to convey God’s wishes. That gives us hope since if God can use and ass then surely He can use one of us!! But if you read before this story it gets confusing. God asked Balaam to God and on his journey He tries to stop Balaam.
In verse 20, God says “get up and go with them” but in verse 22 God “was angry that Balaam was going”. This set off the events which caused the donkey to speak. What was different? The angels repeated what God has told Balaam before to do as He says, which leads me to believe Balaam only got half the message. He was going, but it appears not with the intention to follow God’s lead.
The two things to get from this story are first when you get a prompt to do something, don’t set out “half way”! When you get the “go/do” prompt make sure you “go” AND “do” and not just “go”. The scripture is not clear about what Balaam was thinking; it almost seemed that he was doing exactly what God had asked him to do. Then God tries to stop him! Why? The only explanation was his intentions, since the angels only reinforced what God had told him in the first place. Do not underestimate God’s ability to look into ones heart.
The other more comical lesson is that God can speak through anyone, even an ass! This alone gives me hope that I am reaching people with these ramblings. A donkey is stubborn and difficult, like me, yet God was able to prompt it to speak to Balaam. Through that revelation of the talking donkey, Balaam was able to see the true reason behind the donkey’s actions. God can speak to you from the most unlikely people, including a homeless guy named Chris. Chris came into our shop and said he saw an illuminated cross, we dismissed him as nuts, months later a video was shot in front of the shop and ended with an illuminated cross in our window. God is cool this way!