Balaam, the Donkey and the Angel

Bible Passage:  Numbers 22

Have we encountered similar situations as Balaam, meeting with problem situations one after another as we walk along life’s way?

Why is my donkey giving me so much trouble? Why is she turning to go another way? Why is she pushing against the wall and, ouch! She even crushed my foot! Why did she stop?  We start to get frustrated and may even start to curse everything and everybody around us.

We wish we could kill this donkey right now because she just isn’t going the way we want her to go!

“Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” (Numbers 22:29)

Have we ever stopped to consider…. if our way is perverse before the Lord in the first place?

“Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.” (Numbers 22:32)

Has it ever crossed our minds that the donkey’s problem behaviour was actually to save our lives and stop us from heading the wrong way?

The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” (Numbers 22:33)

Okay, maybe “perverse” is a rather strong word to use, but at times when we are not going so right in our direction in life, have we thought that the obstacles that come our way may actually be God’s timely reminders for us to return?

When things do not seem to go our way, do we immediately burn with fury, and blame others or the things around us, or sometimes even God? Why not stop to consider where are we going and be sensitive to God’s gentle nudges?

And if we have considered our ways and found them to be blameless before God, then praise God! It may just be a training for us to learn patience and reliance on our Lord God. But if not, then perhaps it is time to stop and realign our direction with God’s direction.

Must it take the Angel of the Lord to appear before our very eyes before we know that we have been wrong?

God’s grace is indeed abundant… He could have struck Balaam dead at the first instance, couldn’t He? Yet, He gave Balaam three chances to repent.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The next time our donkey fail us again, let us not immediately strike the donkey, but let us reflect and consider our ways to see if they are pleasing to God first.

Question for reflection: Are you having problem situations with your donkey? How do you think they reflect God’s gentle nudges?