Growing up, in my family to use the word ‘dumb’ would have been considered rude….the word ‘ass’ does not even bear thought! Imagine my surprise to find a ‘dumb ass’ in the Bible!
In the Old Testament, owning a donkey was a status symbol – a little bit like owning a Mercedes is today. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all referred to specifically as owning large flocks of donkeys – a sign of God’s blessing and prosperity.
Recently we helped my in-laws move into a new house on a farm. The farm has two donkeys that live in the main house paddock to keep the grass down. One of them, Mario, decided to help unload the car by sticking his head into the back. When my wife pushed him out of the way he retaliated by pushing back and biting her on the back of her legs. Donkeys can be stubborn and rude!
Numbers 21-23 contains a story that I think has some of the funniest one-liners in the whole of Scripture – some uttered by people – some uttered by a donkey making a cameo appearance.
Israel was re-entering the promised-land after wandering in the desert for 40 years for complaining and grumbling. Again they complained “There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"[1]….every parent has heard something similar I’m sure at meal time. Perhaps this is why they were known as the ‘Children of Israel!’
The Israelites had defeated a number of armies before they arrived at the plains of Moab – on the Jordan River, just near Jericho. Balak, the prince of Moab freaked out – the Moabites were in a complete panic after seeing what the Israelites did to their neighbours. Enter Balaam – gun for hire. Balaam had a reputation of being the best ‘curser’ in the region. Balak sent a delegation with a nice donation to convince Balaam to come and curse Israel. Balaam knew that it would be wrong – and possibly career limiting - to curse Israel. So after hearing from God overnight he sent the delegation away.
By now Balak is freaking out even more. He sends a larger delegation of higher ranking officials to offer Balaam whatever he wants. Balaam again refuses but would really like the cash……He invites the men to “come along and stay with me tonight as the others did; I'll see what God will say to me this time."[2] He secretly hoped that he could think up a loop-hole and collect the jackpot. Imagine his surprise……
God came to Balaam that night and said, "Since these men have come all this way to see you, go ahead and go with them. But make sure you do absolutely nothing other than what I tell you."
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went off with the noblemen from Moab. As he was going, though, God's anger flared. The angel of God stood in the road to block his way.
Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. When the donkey saw the angel blocking the road and brandishing a sword, she veered off the road into the ditch. Balaam beat the donkey and got her back on the road.
But as they were going through a vineyard, with a fence on either side, the donkey again saw God's angel blocking the way and veered into the fence, crushing Balaam's foot against the fence. Balaam hit her again. God's angel blocked the way yet again—a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. Seeing the angel, Balaam's donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick.
Then God gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: "What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?" Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your trusty donkey on whom you've ridden for years right up until now? Have I ever done anything like this to you before? Have I?"
He said, "No."
Then God helped Balaam see what was going on: He saw God's angel blocking the way, brandishing a sword. (That's not a sword....this is a sword!) Balaam fell to the ground, his face in the dirt. God's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off." [3]
I used to think that a talking donkey was funny. I now think that a man arguing with a talking donkey is even funnier! What on earth was Balaam thinking? How many times do you meet a talking donkey? Was her name Mrs Ed? Balaam even had to concede the argument with the donkey.
Balaam even had two servants travelling on foot – did they see the eight foot tall Angel with wings and a sword and just keep quiet to avoid a confrontation with the boss? Perhaps Peter should have referred to Balaam as the ‘dumb-ass’ rather than the donkey.[4]
Balaam eventually arrives and Balaak asks "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. [5]
Balak takes Balaam to a place where 7 altars have been set up. Balaam uses his sorcery to curse Israel but instead a blessing comes out! Balak suggests that they try another spot with the same result. The comedy of errors continues….. Balaam decides sorcery is a dumb idea and on the third try God gives him a message blessing Israel again.
Balak is so angry he claps his hands together, yells at Balaam, withdraws the agreed payment for services and cops another blessing for his trouble.
What can we learn from this story?
1: If God can use a greedy sorcerer He can use anyone.
2: If God can use a talking donkey He can certainly use us.
3: God has continually intervened miraculously throughout history in our affairs and still does – usually without our knowledge.
4: God is intensely interested in looking after his people.
5: God certainly has a sense of humour if He can use use a talking donkey!
[1] Numbers 21:5 – New International Version
[2] Numbers 21:19 – The Message
[3] Numbers 22:20-33 – The Message
[4] 2 Peter 2:16 – King James Version
[5] Numbers 22:38
In the Old Testament, owning a donkey was a status symbol – a little bit like owning a Mercedes is today. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all referred to specifically as owning large flocks of donkeys – a sign of God’s blessing and prosperity.
Recently we helped my in-laws move into a new house on a farm. The farm has two donkeys that live in the main house paddock to keep the grass down. One of them, Mario, decided to help unload the car by sticking his head into the back. When my wife pushed him out of the way he retaliated by pushing back and biting her on the back of her legs. Donkeys can be stubborn and rude!
Numbers 21-23 contains a story that I think has some of the funniest one-liners in the whole of Scripture – some uttered by people – some uttered by a donkey making a cameo appearance.
Israel was re-entering the promised-land after wandering in the desert for 40 years for complaining and grumbling. Again they complained “There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"[1]….every parent has heard something similar I’m sure at meal time. Perhaps this is why they were known as the ‘Children of Israel!’
The Israelites had defeated a number of armies before they arrived at the plains of Moab – on the Jordan River, just near Jericho. Balak, the prince of Moab freaked out – the Moabites were in a complete panic after seeing what the Israelites did to their neighbours. Enter Balaam – gun for hire. Balaam had a reputation of being the best ‘curser’ in the region. Balak sent a delegation with a nice donation to convince Balaam to come and curse Israel. Balaam knew that it would be wrong – and possibly career limiting - to curse Israel. So after hearing from God overnight he sent the delegation away.
By now Balak is freaking out even more. He sends a larger delegation of higher ranking officials to offer Balaam whatever he wants. Balaam again refuses but would really like the cash……He invites the men to “come along and stay with me tonight as the others did; I'll see what God will say to me this time."[2] He secretly hoped that he could think up a loop-hole and collect the jackpot. Imagine his surprise……
God came to Balaam that night and said, "Since these men have come all this way to see you, go ahead and go with them. But make sure you do absolutely nothing other than what I tell you."
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went off with the noblemen from Moab. As he was going, though, God's anger flared. The angel of God stood in the road to block his way.
Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. When the donkey saw the angel blocking the road and brandishing a sword, she veered off the road into the ditch. Balaam beat the donkey and got her back on the road.
But as they were going through a vineyard, with a fence on either side, the donkey again saw God's angel blocking the way and veered into the fence, crushing Balaam's foot against the fence. Balaam hit her again. God's angel blocked the way yet again—a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. Seeing the angel, Balaam's donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick.
Then God gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: "What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?" Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your trusty donkey on whom you've ridden for years right up until now? Have I ever done anything like this to you before? Have I?"
He said, "No."
Then God helped Balaam see what was going on: He saw God's angel blocking the way, brandishing a sword. (That's not a sword....this is a sword!) Balaam fell to the ground, his face in the dirt. God's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off." [3]
I used to think that a talking donkey was funny. I now think that a man arguing with a talking donkey is even funnier! What on earth was Balaam thinking? How many times do you meet a talking donkey? Was her name Mrs Ed? Balaam even had to concede the argument with the donkey.
Balaam even had two servants travelling on foot – did they see the eight foot tall Angel with wings and a sword and just keep quiet to avoid a confrontation with the boss? Perhaps Peter should have referred to Balaam as the ‘dumb-ass’ rather than the donkey.[4]
Balaam eventually arrives and Balaak asks "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. [5]
Balak takes Balaam to a place where 7 altars have been set up. Balaam uses his sorcery to curse Israel but instead a blessing comes out! Balak suggests that they try another spot with the same result. The comedy of errors continues….. Balaam decides sorcery is a dumb idea and on the third try God gives him a message blessing Israel again.
Balak is so angry he claps his hands together, yells at Balaam, withdraws the agreed payment for services and cops another blessing for his trouble.
What can we learn from this story?
1: If God can use a greedy sorcerer He can use anyone.
2: If God can use a talking donkey He can certainly use us.
3: God has continually intervened miraculously throughout history in our affairs and still does – usually without our knowledge.
4: God is intensely interested in looking after his people.
5: God certainly has a sense of humour if He can use use a talking donkey!
[1] Numbers 21:5 – New International Version
[2] Numbers 21:19 – The Message
[3] Numbers 22:20-33 – The Message
[4] 2 Peter 2:16 – King James Version
[5] Numbers 22:38
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