BALAAM, THE TALKING DONKEY AND THE ANGEL

NUMBERS 22:22-23

This is an incredible story. Truly incredible, because for the first time we see that God can use any creature to speak to us and also for the first time, we see that animals also have emotions but what I want to highlight here is the loyalty of the donkey to Balaam. This was a donkey that had been struck thrice for being wise. She was abused by her master and treated unfairly yet she didn’t give up her master to be smitten by the Angel of the Lord and that I must say, is a remarkable quality of the donkey because the natural thing to do when we have been treated badly or unfairly is to get even with our oppressor. The least chance we get should be to deal with them so that they would also feel the same pain we felt hence not repeat what they did to us but the donkey did otherwise. She had the option to move and immediately Balaam would’ve got what he deserved. Can you imagine that the life of a man and much more a servant of God was in the hands of a donkey? Even more intriguing is that the donkey decided to forgive?!

“... the natural thing to do when we have been treated badly or unfairly is to get even with our oppressor. The least chance we get should be to deal with them so that they would also feel the same pain we felt hence not repeat what they did to us but the donkey did otherwise. ”

Most of us have been in one way or the other treated unfairly and it hurt more because the perpetrator was someone we thought loved us. Someone we gave our all like that unreasonable boss in the office, that wicked relative of ours, that greedy business partner, that unrewarding caretaker or that horrible wife or husband and we’re just counting down till the day we can make things square.

Let me tell you a story:

So I have this friend who always used to tell me about how he felt his father was unreasonably wicked towards him and his siblings. He would hit them for the least mistake they did and always made a mountain out of a molehill in every situation. He always wondered if this man was their biological father as he claimed and as the years went by, he was harboring hatred in his heart for him, which is a fair and reasonable outcome because of the perpetual abuse they were facing.

One day this prophet of God came to their house and when he was about to leave, decided to pray with them. He spoke so many blessings over them and how God wanted to bless him and his siblings. Suddenly, to everyone’s bemusement, the prophet screamed: “NO! NO! NO!”. He then pulled my friend aside and began to rebuke him that he’s seen what he’s planned. My friend was confused in the moment and asked him what he meant by that. The prophet began to reveal the plans my friend had to hurt his father even to the point of poisoning him or stabbing him and how he had been contemplating on which of those options was more gruesome. My friend broke down and wept uncontrollably while the prophet continued to tell him how God always wanted to bless him speedily, but anytime the angel arrived, the unforgiveness and hatred weren’t allowing him to receive the blessing. The devil used his pain as a tool to plant seeds of wickedness in him. In the eyes of the law, had he done what he intended to do, whether his reasons were justifiable or not, he was going to be labelled as a criminal and his father a victim so there’s no difference there between the two. “An eye for an eye and the world becomes blind” was a quote I once saw on a friend’s Whatsapp status and how true it is.

“ My friend broke down and wept uncontrollably while the prophet continued to tell him how God always wanted to bless him speedily, but anytime the angel arrived, the unforgiveness and hatred weren’t allowing him to receive the blessing. ”

Jesus, our Lord and saviour when He came, realized how evil the law He gave to Moses had caused the people to become very unforgiving. The law being this: “But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise” (Exodus 21:23-24). Jesus decided to to update the law when he had the opportunity to address unforgiveness in the new testament (Matthew 5:38-42). Even God can change His mind and review His laws. How much ‘less’ you and I?

Why are you holding on to that hurt? It’s been years now. Forgive and move on. Jesus entreats us to “love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us” (Matthew 5: 44). Let me also quickly add that I’m not endorsing that you stay in an abusive or toxic relationship because your staying with such a fellow means you’re acting in obedience to God’s word. Let love lead but let wisdom precede it! Get out of such ‘situationships’ as quickly as you can. What I’m writing against is seeking to avenge or carrying out the law into your own hands. If you’re a staunch follower of the laws of Moses then here’s something for you in the books of Moses: “Vengeance is mine says the Lord” (Deuteronomy 32:35) and my sister’s favourite bible verse: (Exodus 14:14) “The Lord shall fight for you and shall hold your peace.”

Trust God to always take care of you. God bless you.