So we come to Numbers 22 and we will meet one of the most famous animals of the Bible, Balaam's donkey, but before we do lets get some context. The Israelites are camping in the plains of Moab, and the Moabites knowing what the Israelites had done previously to the Amorities, are in fear. So the king, Balak seeks to get Balaam to curse the Israelites and sends with his messengers "fees for divination" (verse 7). Balaam's first answer is that He will seek God's Will on the matter, as well He should. To his credit Balaam tells the messengers that he will not curse the Israelites and sends them on their way.

Balak sends more important messengers, and no doubt more money, to try and persuade Balaam. Now Balaam already knew God's will and would have known that God doesn't just change His mind, but instead Balaam again seeks God's Will. Once we know God's will on a matter, we need to accept it as being final on the matter.

So God warns Balaam to only say what God gives Him to say. It is strange that Balaam goes, already knowing that it is not God's Will for him to curse the Israelites, but hoping to receive some of the money, perhaps by saying something different to what God says, he goes. On his way, his donkey is suddenly very disobedient, but instead of thinking why his donkey might suddenly act like this, he just hits it, not once, not twice but three times! Then when the donkey is given the power of speech by God, Balaam doesn't think hold on something strange is going on, why is my donkey speaking to me, no instead he threatens to kill it! Then God opens Balaam's eyes and warns him to only say what God has for him to say.

If we go on through our Bibles, we find Balaam mentioned in, Deuteronomy 23:4-5, Joshua 13:22, Nehemiah 13:1-2, 2 Peter 2:14-16, Jude 1v11 here we see Balaam's true character, how he was seeking to make money out of delivering false messages and attributing them to God. I trust none of us would ever seek to mis-represent God in such a way, but we all need to be careful of trying too hard to make God's Will fit outs, and not accept God's answer as final on matters.

Please send any comments you have on this article to a.wood@assemblyyouth.net

Dare to be a Daniel The Lion's den	Next month: the unequal yoke.	Thought for the month Quiet with God
	Wilderness Years
	Last month: are you possessing the land.

All quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.