A Prophet, an Angel and a
Talking Donkey
by Richard D. Gelina
Background:
In the Old Testament book of Numbers we find the story of the prophet Balaam. This prophet lived during the time when Moses was leading Israel against the Amorites. Israel had wiped out the Amorites and was chasing those who had fled the city. The people of the nearby kingdom of Moab began to hear about Israel's incredible war capabilities. The Moabites were so afraid that they said that if Moab were to get involved in a war with Israel, the Israelites would "lick up all that are round about [them], as the ox licks up the grass of the field" (Num. 22:4).
As the curtain rises we find the king of Moab pacing the floor because he has heard about the Israelites wiping out all of the local nations. But the king has also heard about Balaam's powers as a prophet of God, and he thinks that if Balaam cursed the Israelites he might be able to win a battle against them. The king sits down at his desk and begins typing a letter on his IBM Selectric®. (He hasn't bought a computer yet.)
Letter to Balaam:
Dear Balaam, I am the King of Moab. You could be rich and famous. You have been chosen as a potential winner. If you’ll come to my kingdom and curse the Israelites you may ask for anything and I will give it to you.
[courier carries letter to Balaam and places it in his hand]
Balaam: Why, thank you courier.
Balaam [on his knees, talking to God]: God, I’ve just received this letter from the King of Moab and I sure could use some wealth and fame. What should I do?
God: [with heavy reverb effect]: Balaam, Israel is my people. Do not curse them, you bonehead!.
Balaam [talking to himself]: Wow, this is tough. God told me not to curse the Israelites, but I sure could use that money to pay off my mortgage and to get a new donkey with the upgraded stereo that plays MP3s. Well, "better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission"—I’ll do it.
[Balaam saddles up his old donkey (with the cheap AM radio) and heads down the road toward Moab. After a while the traffic thins out and he begins to ride down an unpaved back road. Balaam’s donkey sees an angel in the road ahead. The angel is holding a flaming sword and standing in a threatening pose but apparently Balaam doesn’t see a thing. The donkey jumps and runs off into a field. Balaam beats the donkey to get her to continue down the road but the she just refuses to cooperate. Finally the donkey runs into a wall at the side of the road and crushes Balaam’s foot against it. Balaam beats the donkey again. The donkey then lays down and will not budge. Balaam beats the donkey a third time.]
[God gives the donkey the ability to speak.]
Donkey: What have I done to make you beat me these three times? We aren't carrying personal problems to the workplace, are we?
Balaam [apparently not realizing that his donkey is doing a Mr. Ed impression]: I wish I had a sword instead of a rod because I'd be dining on donkey shish-ka-bob tonight.
Donkey: Haven't I always served you well? Why are you treating me this way, you mean old thing?"
[God opens Balaam's eyes so he can see the angel who would have killed him had his donkey not protected him.]
Angel [light reverb]: Balaam, you in a heap o’ trouble boy. If your donkey hadn’t seen me here, you’d be half the man you once were.
[Balaam, now realizing that he's acted like an idiot—but not yet realizing that it will be recorded in the Bible for generations of future faithful to laugh at him, repents of his sinfulness]
[A humble but wiser Balaam sets back out on the road, but this time ready to follow where God leads.]
[exit stage left]
The end
One lesson we should learn from this amazingly true story is to not become proud when God begins to use us to accomplish His goals. In Balaam's story, God used a lowly donkey to save the life of His prophet. This was probably a great lesson in humility for Balaam, and it should be for us as well.
Whenever we as pro-lifers demonstrate a united front—whether in a protest, a march, a prayer vigil, or a rescue—we must be ready to show the world that we are strong in Christ. We must show our nation that we will not stop fighting for the lives of God's precious preborn children until there is equal protection for all under United States law. We need to allow God to work through us, and to use us to honor Him.
Rescues and marches will be inspiring, and there will be a sense of awe at the powerful army God has assembled. But we must remain humble through all of this—humble and grateful to God for using us to accomplish His will. We also must not become overwhelmed. This is God's battle. We may think that we are unequal to the task—that the goal is beyond our abilities. We may feel as Moses felt when he told God, I am not eloquent ... I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue" (Exodus 4:10). These are natural human emotions and to be expected. But we need to remember that God chooses the instrument He is going to use. He will enable that instrument to complete the task. If God could use donkey to accomplish His goal surely He can use us—in spite of our shortcomings.