Thoughts for the Day

The Israelites set out, and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho. Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were so numerous. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, saying, ‘A people has come out of Egypt; they have spread over the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I;'

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak’s message. He said to them, ‘Stay here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, just as the Lord speaks to me’... God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.’ So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the officials of Balak, ‘Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.’ So the officials of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, ‘Balaam refuses to come with us.’

Once again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more distinguished than these.... But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, ‘Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God'. .........' (However, Balaam finally goes!)

God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back on to the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck it again. Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!’

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. The angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely I would by now have killed you and let it live.’ Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.’

* Apologies for the length, and for cutting some of the text!

(Church in Wales Lectiontary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This episode of Balam, Balak and the angel is worthy of the best naive folk story, but it has a profound theological meaning. It is both funny and yet serious. The stupidity and stubbornness of the human Balaam is contrasted with the smartness of the donkey - made even more ridiculous since the ass is usually seen as being obstinate and not bright.

But what is wrong with Balaam that God treats him in this way? Certainly God wants to keep His people, Israel, safe, but it's more than that. We get a hint that Balaam intends to get as much out of Balak as possible in his words when he says: 'Athough Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God'. These words sound admirable, but it looks as though God can see the truth in Balaam's heart.

Moral? Never try and kid God about your intentions because he knows them as you think them!

Lord God Almighty,
teach us to be honest with You,
to open our hearts to You
in love and worship,
knowing that we are Your children
and that You love us.
Forgive our faults and
teach us to live the kind of life
you would have us live.
Amen.