Strange Things in the Bible – A Talking Donkey – October 15, 2023
Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Prayer
SHARE – Icebreaker – In this sermon series, we are exploring some of the strange stories in the Bible. This Sunday we are exploring a story about a talking donkey. If your pet could talk, what would it say about you?
STUDY - Text: Numbers 22:20-35 (NRSV)
God came to Balaam and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you to do.” So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab. God’s anger was kindled because he 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 onto 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!” But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?” And he said, “No.” 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 just now I would 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.” The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.” So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak.
Balaam’s donkey, who has been part of his life for a long time, helps him see his blind spots and potential pitfalls. Who has been a good donkey in your life? Who has helped warned you against blind spots and potential pitfalls?
The angel stands in Balaam’s way but speaks on behalf of God. When has something/someone you first considered to be an adversary turned out to be an advocate in your life?
The only other occurrence of an animal speaking in the scriptures is the snake in Genesis 3. Both stories end with humans’ eyes being opened. How are these stories similar? How are they different?
Balaam had a reputation of being able to bless or curse others. We have the ability to be a people who bless others, and we have the ability to be a people who curse others. In what ways do people today attempt to curse each other? How can groups of people bless each other?
SUPPORT - Blessings and Burdens: What has been life-giving for you this week? What has been life-draining for you?
Closing Prayer