Heed the Donkey’s Wisdom
Author: Pastor Walther
If someone refers to you as a donkey – and they probably don’t say it quite like that – it’s not a compliment! What’s even worse is when you find yourself corrected by a donkey.
In Bible times a man named Balaam found himself in that position. He had been hired by the Moabites to curse the nation of Israel when they came out of the wilderness to settle in the land of Cannan. It probably started like any other job where Balaam thought he could outwit whatever god he found himself up against that day. But this time he was not just up against sticks or stones. He was up against the only true God who has ever existed.
Perhaps you remember the story. Balaam is trying to make his way to the Israelites, but his donkey continues to see the angel of the Lord standing in their way, whom Balaam cannot see. Even this dumb animal knows it isn’t wise to press on, so it progressively seeks to avoid the Lord: first taking another path, then crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall to pass by the angel, and finally laying down in the road when there was no room to pass – each reaction prompting Balaam to beat this poor animal!
That’s when the Lord allows the donkey to speak, “What have I done to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam is not about to be spoken down to by a donkey, so he threatens to kill it. Then his donkey – a donkey, of all creatures! – tries to reason with him. “Have I ever done this before? Of course not!”, hinting there was something different going on… and the Lord used that to open Balaam’s eyes. He saw the angel of the Lord, and he fell face down.
I am ashamed to ask, how often is Balaam me? Recklessly going before the Lord – against the Lord and what he wants! – yet I don’t see it as such. Like Balaam I think I can bend the Lord to my will, and I miss entirely when he stands opposed to me. It should be the end of me, especially when the behavior of others– let’s call them “donkeys” – puts me to shame! I should know so much better as a pastor, as a Christian husband & dad, as a life-long Lutheran. You should too. Yet it’s the unbelievers, the sinners, and the outcasts who show us up. Only a merciful God could erase such ugly sin.
He does. Consider Balaam. It seems almost impossible that two chapters later God would speak through his mouth one of famous prophecies of the Christmas season, yet Balaam says, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17) This prophecy reminds us that God forgives this same sin of ours through the star who rose from the nation of Jacob, the Christ child who shines light into our dark world, who reigns as a different kind of king. Like he did with Balaam, God puts these same saving words in our ears and on our tongues.
The rest of the Bible hints that Balaam’s story ended tragically. Though he spoke the very Word of God, he did not turn to the Lord in repentance and faith. God prevent that from happening to us! When God mercifully causes dumb donkeys – of all people – to speak reason and wisdom to us, wake up and see him in your path! Then be humbled, repent of sin, find forgiveness in Christ, and live life differently. Amen.
