Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were determined to move heaven and earth so you could have it? No one could stop you, you would not listen to reasoning, you just wanted what you wanted. You knew God’s plan, but it did not line up with what you wanted so you kept going back to God hoping that just maybe He would change his mind.

Balaam knew the answer God had given. God said that he was not to go meet with Balak, King of Moab. Balak would not accept this refusal so he sent two sets of officials, offering great rewards to Balaam if he would come and curse the Israelites. Balaam refused to accept silver or gold from the king’s palace and recited once again that he must follow the command of the Lord. However, Balaam compromised and said, “Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”  Numbers 22:19. That night God said Balaam could go with the men, but he could only do as the Lord instructed.

Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the Moabite officials. But God was angry with Balaam and sent an angel of the Lord to stand in the road to oppose him. Balaam’s donkey saw the angel standing with a drawn sword and went off the road into a field. Balaam beat his donkey to get it back on the road.

 Two more times the angel stood in the way and the donkey pressed close to the wall and then bowed down completely to attempt to protect Balaam. Balaam beat the donkey a total of three times and then it happened.  God opened the donkey’s mouth and the donkey questioned Balaam as to what he had done to deserve the beatings. It was then that Balaam’s eyes were opened, and he saw the angel with sword drawn standing in the road.  Balaam fell face down.

The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me…. If the donkey had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” Numbers 22:32-33

Balaam realized he had sinned, and he offered to go back. But the angel instructed him to go on and only speak what the Lord said.

While we don’t have donkeys talking to us today, we can relate to Balaam.  Balaam was on a reckless path. He knew the will of God but still he persisted, pressing for his plan versus God’s plan. Balaam could not understand that God loved him and the plan that God had would be so much better than he could imagine.

I have done it. I have pressed for what I wanted. I did not understand that God’s ways are better. His ways are not my way. His plan is more than I can comprehend, and all that God does or allows to take place in my life is for His glory and to bring me closer in relationship with Him.

So, know this:  while donkeys may not be speaking, God does. He will speak to us and if we trust Him, He will direct our path and show us the way.