Are there any pastors left that haven’t heard someone say “well, I guess God can make a donkey talk?” Finally, we have here the true account of a donkey that really did speak. But check out what’s happening that leads up to it..
I sat down with my bible map and looked intently for the names of the towns and rivers that the Hebrew nation was moving through. Many of the names are similar in spelling, and all of them are unfamiliar, which makes it hard to grasp. On top of that, the map I was using shows the tribal regions of the Amorites south of the Dead Sea, and the Ammonites in the location where the battles are taking place.
Honestly…who cares. It’s not that important anyway. Looking at the big picture it goes something like this: Moses and the Hebrews are moving northeast toward the promised land, on a trajectory to enter it from the southwest side of the Dead Sea. There is a king there that blocks their way and refuses to allow them to pass. (remember that for a later point). So they turn around and head back south. WAY back south to the northern tip of the Red Sea, where they then turn and head back north…only this time they drift more to the east, so they will enter the promised land from the southeastern side. It seems like what they’ve done is go south around a mountain range and now they are on the opposite side in another kingdom. As they approach these kingdoms the residents come out and attack them, but the Hebrews devour them. My Bible says they killed everyone, and then occupied their homes, took over their gardens, played with their toys. The violence and violation of this would certainly shock anyone who pauses to think about it. Why would God allow such terrible behavior?
It’s happening because the residents of these lands have forgotten God and have been worshiping idols for years. You will see the name “Chemosh” listed. He was the god of the Moabites, and their worship of him has angered God. I don’t believe that God would have displaced these people from their lands and homes if they had been obedient to Him. He could have made the desert a fertile garden for the new nation…property is of no value to God, He can create whatever He wishes. The mountains could have become a plain if that’s what He wanted. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that God needed a place for this new nation so He had them kill off the residents of the land. The two are related, but one didn’t cause the other. The residents of the land are being executed because they have completely forgotten God.
Sadly, by the time Israel has crowned their second king (Solomon) they will begin to forget God as well, and even resurrect worship of Chemosh. The very same nation that is calling for the destruction of Chemosh will build altars in his name later….and because of it, they will also be conquered and killed off, just like the Moabites. God is fair and just. Worship Him alone or suffer the consequences.
So, back to the southwest-southeast issue for a minute: I think that sometimes God places obstacles in our way for the purpose of moving us to a better place. That being the case, a “closed door” or an opportunity that falls through isn’t always a bad thing. It may be God’s way of re positioning us. Hold that thought… as God begins re-positioning the Hebrews for victory in battle what are they doing? They are complaining. That’s why the bronze snake was created, because the people incurred God’s wrath when they complained. God was helping them, and they were complaining about it. I wonder if that still happens today? Do we see closed doors as God saying “no” or as God saying “there’s a better way”?
Moving along (we must touch on the snake and the donkey).
The bronze snake resembled the curse (of poisonous snakes) and when the people looked up at the bronze snake, which was on a wooden pole they were healed. Jesus says in the New Testament (John 3:14-15) that He will be “lifted up” just like the snake was, and everyone who looks to Him will be healed. Here’s an amazing thought: Even while Israel is being disobedient, God is using it to work out His perfect will. He reveals Himself in spite of their unbelief, and He is thinking about events that are so far ahead of us that we can’t even grasp it. He is literally thousands of years ahead of us in the conversation…and more than that..but I can’t conceive of it.
And finally, our friend, “Balaam’s Donkey”. This passage serves to remind us that all events are controlled by God. This prophet cannot speak on his own, or curse people for a profit…he doesn’t possess any power unless God gives it to him. He has no words to speak unless the Lord provides them. I think the “Angel of the Lord” that blocks Balaam’s path could be Jesus. We can’t know for sure. Maybe it’s the Holy Spirit. It certainly would be the Holy Spirit that made the donkey talk. It seems that God didn’t want Balaam to go and prophesy…but then He allows it and is angry that he’s going….I’m a little confused. On the other hand, I have allowed my children to do things that made me mad because they did them. I wanted them to like what I liked, but as they grew I realized that their preferences were different than mine.
I wonder if Balaam really wanted some of the riches that king Balak was providing. And maybe he didn’t care as much about the wandering Hebrews as God did…and that’s what made God angry.
“Lord, I want to be happy about what makes you happy, and I want to reject what you reject. Work so deeply within me that my inner nature becomes a reflection of yours, and remove anything that hinders that reflection”.
Faithfully,
PR