BALAAM AND
THE TALKING DONKEY
by Jim
Jordal
One of my
favorite biblical episodes is that of a somewhat greedy and self-absorbed
Midianite poet and diviner named Balaam, who rode his donkey into biblical history
during an angelic encounter so dramatic that the terrified donkey spoke out in
human language.
The entire
account is recorded in Numbers chapters 22-24. It seems that Midianite King
Balak and his Moabite allies, fearful of the expansionist tendencies of the new
state of Israel, sent a delegation of nobles to bribe the financially and
ethically challenged Balaam to prophesy against Israel. Rather than directly
refuse, Balaam took the matter under advisement overnight. In the morning he
declined, saying that they should return to their own land because God had told
him that he could not curse Israel because they were a blessed people.
The
chagrinned Balak then sent another even more distinguished delegation to
promise great honor to Balaam if he would curse Israel. Again Balaam refused,
saying he could not violate God’s command even for any amount of wealth or
fame. But as Balaam meditated that night God changed his command, telling
Balaam to go with the delegation, but to do only what God commanded.
So in the
morning Balaam saddled his donkey and set out with the officials of Moab. But
God was angry at what we might consider Balaam’s perfidy in wishing to gain
some of the wealth of Midian in return for his services. So God sent an angel
with drawn sword to block the path. The donkey, seeing the angel, turned into a
field, whereupon an angry Balaam struck him. Again, the angel blocked the trail
in a narrow place between two walls, scraping Balaam’s foot against the wall.
Again, Balaam angrily struck the donkey. Finally, the angel blocked the entire
pathway, causing the donkey to lie down under Balaam. At this point God opened
the donkey’s mouth, and the animal asked why he had been struck these three
times. Balaam replied it was because the donkey had made a fool of him
(probably in the eyes of his consorts), and said that if he had a sword he
would kill him. Now Balaam’s eyes opened to see the angel, and he fell on his
knees in fear.
The angel
told Balaam that he was sent to block the way because of God’s anger at
Balaam’s perverse behavior, and that if the donkey had not prevented it, he
would have killed Balaam.
Balaam now
continued on to meet Balak, who gave him a tumultuous welcome since he believed
he had finally suborned Balaam enough to get him to curse Israel. But no,
Balaam again refused. But Balak was a persistent fellow who then changed the
situation three times in the attempt to get Balaam to curse Israel. After the
third refusal, Balak became angry and ordered Balaam to leave.
What remain
for us today---besides a humorous story--- are the principles revealed in the
four oracles attributed to Balaam. Each contains a new manifestation of God and
his interaction with Israel and its growth into a regional superpower. The
first sets the tone for the others with this magnificent statement: “ How
shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD
hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the
hills I behold him...”(Num. 23:8-9a). The second oracle a few verses later
presents us with God’s undying favor for his people and the promise that once
spoken this blessing cannot be withdrawn.
In his third
oracle Balaam sees the tents of Israel spread across the plain and likens
Israel to a wild ox or a lioness that will break the bones of Israel’s enemies.
He then pronounces an eternal blessing: “Blessed is everyone who blesses you
(God’s people), and cursed is everyone who curses you.”
His final oracle proclaims the advent of
Christ with this statement: “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall
rise out of Israel.” At this Christmas time let’s remember that these blessings
proclaimed by Balaam still operate today. God still favors his people who trust
in him. He still blesses those who obey and follow him. And nothing will change
this eternal relationship.
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