We’re starting a new series this morning- Wild & Wacky Totally True Bible Stories. As the title indicates, we’re going to look at some highly unusual events that often get overlooked when sermon planning because they’re so strange. Today’s passage is no exception.
As we prepare to read, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions a donkey? Typically, it’s the stereotype that donkeys can be stubborn creatures. Knowing the passage I was preparing to preach today, I had to laugh when Justin told me about his donkey hoof-trimming adventure last weekend.
Apparently, donkeys don’t like getting their hooves trimmed, but it’s a necessary task. Justin told me about how he had to take a strap and pull the donkey as close to a pole as he could before tying the strap, limiting the donkey’s ability to move. He then had to get ahold of one of the donkey’s legs, getting the hoof to where he could trim it. The problem was, the donkey would still struggle- just imagine Justin holding a donkey’s leg trying to trim it’s toenail as the donkey hobbles with Justin in circles around the pole to which it’s strapped. It does NOT sound like a good time.
Even with this stubbornness, we see several instances in scripture where God seems to use donkeys to carry out His will. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, it was a donkey that carried the wood for the sacrifice. Samson used the jawbone of a donkey to kill 1,000 Philistines. Saul was searching for his father’s lost donkeys when he came upon Samuel and was anointed to become the first king of Israel. Tradition holds that Mary rode a donkey into Bethlehem just before giving birth to Jesus. And, of course, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem for His triumphal entry a week before He died.
A donkey also plays a key role in our passage today. Let’s read Numbers 22:21-35. Pray.
Allow me to set the stage with some context for this donkey ride. Israel is nearing the end of their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness for not obeying God. Moses is still their leader and they’re finally heading towards the promised land- Canaan. Israel had requested that the Amorites allow them to pass through their land to reach Canaan, but the Amorites refused. In fact, they rallied their troops to attack Israel. Israel won the fight and inhabited the land of the Amorites, where they are now camped near the plains of Moab (this is the location where Moses will die in the not far off future).
Balak, the son of Zippor is the king of Moab. He and all his people have heard about Israel’s defeat of the Amorites and they’re filled with fear because there are so many Israelites that surely the Moabites will be the next to fall. Now, Balak recognizes the divine nature of Israel’s success, so he hatches a plan to counter that.
Balak calls for Balaam to come and curse the people of Israel. Who is this Balaam? He’s a prophet of God, though not a Jew. I liken him to Melchizedek, another man who wasn’t a Hebrew, but was a priest of God who collected the first tithe from Abraham and is later used as an example pointing to Christ.
Balak is well aware of Balaam’s reputation- those he blesses are blessed, those he curses are cursed. So he sends a group of Moabite and Midianite elders to bring Balaam to curse Israel.
Balaam’s immediate response is a good one. “Let me see what the LORD (God’s name YHWH is indicated by LORD in all caps) says.” God comes to him and tells Balaam not to go because he can’t be cursing the people whom God has blessed.
Balak gets the news and sends an even larger group of princes this time in an effort to convince Balaam to come and curse Israel. Balaam again consults with God and this time receives permission to go. That catches us up to the passage we just read.
The morning after consulting with God, Balaam gets up, saddles his donkey, and went along with the Moabite princes. But verse 22 tells us “But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. But wait a minute, didn’t God give him permission to go? Why would God be angry that Balaam went with the princes?
Peter gives us a clue when he warns about false teachers (read 2 Peter 2:15). Balaam’s trip speaks to his motive- he’s seeking to gain from wrongdoing. God knows Balaam’s heart- his greed, his love for money, putting Balaam on a dangerous path. How can we tell?
Both times the groups came to Balaam, they offered riches in exchange for a curse upon Israel. He did well to tell them he needed to consult God, acknowledging he shouldn’t do more than what God tells him to do. But why didn’t the second time end with Balaam’s initial response? (Read Numbers 22:18) Balaam already had God’s answer, he knew he wasn’t supposed to curse Israel- but there’s riches to be had. So he goes back and asks God again, just in case he can get an answer more to his liking.
Why does God let him go this time? Here’s the Scott Jewell modern-day interpretation of their exchange. “Balaam: Please, God, can I go with my new friends? God: Haven’t we already talked about this. Balaam: Well, yeah, but, God- I really want to go! God: Fine. If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” God knew Balaam would keep asking and, like a parent with a stubborn child, He allows Balaam to go, knowing how it would all work out for him.
To make His point clear, God uses a donkey to teach Balaam a lesson. He sends his angel as an adversary to Balaam, only Balaam doesn’t know it. As he’s riding along on his donkey accompanied by his two servants, the donkey sees the angel with his sword drawn standing in their way on the road. The donkey veers off the road and into a field, avoiding attack. Balaam doesn’t see the angel, can’t figure out why the donkey veered off the path, and strikes it to get it to continue on their way.
The angel then appears at a point in the road along a vineyard where there are stone walls along the way. The donkey sees the angel, tries to move out of the way, but presses Balaam’s foot into the wall. Balaam still doesn’t see the angel, he’s now in pain, and he strikes the donkey again so they can continue.
This time the angel finds a spot in the road that is narrow enough that there is no way for the donkey to dodge. The donkey sees the angel, recognizes there is nowhere to go, and proceeds to lay down on the road right where it was. By this time, Balaam’s patience has worn thin, he’s angry, this stubborn donkey is keeping him from his prize. This time he takes his staff and strikes the donkey yet again.
That’s when something so wild and wacky happens. It’s so unusual, you can’t make this stuff up. The donkey speaks! (read Numbers 22:30) Imagine Balaam’s response, the Bible simply says he said no. But I picture him immediately going- wait a minute- you s-s-s-spoke. What’s going on?
That’s when God opens Balaam’s eyes so that he can see the angel. The angel proceeds to chastise Balaam- why have you struck your donkey these 3 times? You are going down a very reckless path, chasing riches for doing what you know is wrong. Your donkey saved your life.
At this point, Balaam confesses his sin, but he makes excuses- I didn’t know you were there! How often do we sound just like Balaam? I’m sorry God, I didn’t know it was wrong, I didn’t think it was a big deal, I wasn’t worried about it. Balaam offers to turn back at this point, but the angel tells him to continue, but only speak what I tell you to speak.
This results in Balaam coming to Balak, who offers great rewards to curse Israel. Once again, Balaam tells him the words God puts in his mouth are what he must speak.
Balak takes him to a place where Balaam can see some of Israel. Balaam asks God if he can curse Israel, God gives him a blessing for Israel. Balak decides they need to try another spot.
They go to a second spot with a more clear view of Israel and Balak again asks Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam consults with God and God gives him another blessing. Balak’s not happy- if you won’t curse these people, at least don’t bless them. This wasn’t what I had in mind.
Balak takes Balaam to a third spot, demanding once again that Balaam curses Israel. Once again, God gives a blessing. Balak tells Balaam he’d better flee because he’s not going to get rewarded.
Balaam responds with one more oracle, this one with no expected reward (read Numbers 24:15-19). Balaam proclaims well-being for Israel for some time to come. Free bonus today- check out the prophecy given regarding the messiah (Numbers 24:17a).
Now why did God include such a weird and wacky story about a donkey talking in the Bible? I believe the story of Balaam is a warning for us against false teachers. We already saw Peter use Balaam as an example in warning against false teachers. Jude gives a similar warning (read Jude 1:11)- Cain, Balaam, and Korah were all lost because they strayed from God. John gets after the church of Pergamum (read Revelation 2:14). Balaam helped the enemy distract God’s people from following God.
But hold on? Didn’t Balaam end up obeying God, only saying what he was told? Yes, kind of. When Moses recounts the battle against Moab in Deuteronomy 23. He tells the people that Balaam kept asking God to curse them but God turned it into a blessing. In Numbers 31, we learn that Balaam was the one who had advised Balak in how to defeat Israel. Send the Moabite women to Israel to seduce Israel and draw the people away from God. In the end, when Israel defeated Moab in battle, Balaam was one of the casualties.
So what can we learn from Balaam? First, we need to recognize that God’s word is true and unchanging. Balaam knew God’s answer, he didn’t like the answer, so he kept going back in hopes of getting a different answer. God blessed Israel, no matter how many times Balaam asked to give a curse.
Second, we need to remember that God gives us free will. God had told Balaam not to go and curse His people, but when Balaam returned to ask again, gave him permission to go, knowing Balaam would have to deal with the consequences of his choice.
Third, we need to live ourselves up with God, not try to line Him up with us. We need to study scripture. We have this book so we can know Him and make Him known to others. We need to pray, be talking to God. This humbles us in His presence. We need to talk to other believers. We come together to encourage each other and spur one another on. When we’re trying to discern God’s will in our lives, it’s good to talk in fellow believers whom we trust.
Finally, we need to keep God at the center of our lives. The world has plenty of distractions. We need work to keep our focus on Him.
Pray.
Did you notice how each time the angel of God appeared it was on an increasingly narrower path? The donkey had to come to a stop because the only way to proceed was through the angel. That imagery sounds similar to when Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount (read Matthew 7:13-14). There is one way to heaven, through the narrow gate that is Jesus Christ.
How do we enter through the narrow gate? We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. We repent of our sin and turn to rely on God. We confess or declare that Jesus Christ is Lord or Master of our life. We join with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism. We live our lives for Him. If these are steps that you have yet to take, we want to give you that opportunity now as we stand and sing our invitation song, come forward and begin your journey with Christ today.
