SCRIPTURE: God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 NIV
THOUGHT: Daughter number two and I have had a lot of fun traveling together over the years. When she was in high school, we started a tradition that persists — yelling, “Donnnnnkeee,” (in the same voice Shrek uses for his friend) to alert each other to a nearby Dunkin’ Doughnuts. That’s all for free and really has nothing to do with the devo – except to say that talking donkeys didn’t begin in 2001 with Shrek. Read the backdrop for the thought today from Numbers 22 if you need a reminder. Poor Donnnnnkeee.
The real thought for today is that Balaam’s donkey saw the truth before he did – a technically “dumb” animal saw the angel of the LORD blocking the road and first tries to turn around, then stops, and finally just lays down. Sensitive animal, but clueless man. Not accustomed to accepting truth from donkeys (or seeing angels), this practitioner of ancient divination doesn’t listen, beats the donkey every time, and the angel wants to kill him for his stubbornness.
When the animal starts talking however, Balaam starts listening, and before the story is over at the end of Chapter 24, he is thoroughly convinced of God’s sovereignty, kindness, and protection of Israel. Like a donkey refusing to budge, Balaam refuses to pronounce a curse on the nation he has been hired to curse.
Don’t miss this truth for our crazy times: A heathen who has only lately been schooled by a donkey is able to speak God’s truth in the face of threats: God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Maybe we can speak to that without needing a talking donkey to convince us.
PRAYER: Lord, if even a donkey can see the spiritual truth, surely you can teach me to see you at work. You are to be trusted, not trifled with. So give me the epiphany of Balaam and make me stubborn in the right ways.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
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