Did You Hear the Donkey Speak?

Prayer – Lord, I am amazed at Your sense of humor! A donkey spoke…or You spoke through a donkey to rebuke a person. A donkey! Not a big, beautiful horse…or in that day and time, a magnificent camel—but You used a humble, yet likely stubborn, donkey. Today, would You use a car or some other mode of transportation to speak to a false teacher or person who is following an evil path like Balaam? Would they listen? Give me wisdom to recognize any false teacher in my midst—like those about whom Peter warned--even those on YouTube.

These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God's curse. They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.   2 Peter 2:12-16

Meditate. Listen to the donkey—and to the voice of God, blessing His people.

 

Have you ever heard a donkey speak? Read Numbers 22-24 for the story of Balaam and his experience with a donkey who saw the angel of the Lord and didn’t appreciate being beaten. That animal had been faithful to Balaam, but when he appeared to be stubborn, Balaam hit him. That’s the way lots of people treat animals, but God got Balaam’s attention through his interaction with his donkey. Balaam was on his way to curse the children of Israel, but they were God’s chosen people on their way to the Promised Land from Egypt and God wasn’t about to have them cursed. That’s the way it is with God. No one can curse His chosen people—those He loves dearly. Peter reminds us of the story of Balaam to show us God’s love for His people, and that those who are false teachers, like those who wanted to curse the Israelites, will be destroyed. When God called Abram (Abraham) He provided a promise that the Jews have clung to throughout history, and rightly so since they are God’s chosen people.

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3

That relationship between God and Abraham was uniquely special because of Abraham’s faithfulness to God. Our relationship to God can be just as blessed, if we are dedicated to God and love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We don’t have to hear a donkey speak to recognize God in our lives and to be obedient to Him.

 

Verses of Salvation and Hope ~ Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there. No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end. All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory. Isaiah 60:18-21

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Valentine’s Day is coming soon. What will you serve to your sweetheart? If you are trying to cut sugar out of your diet, finding or creating a sugarless dessert maybe a challenge. Oh sure, you can substitute sugar with Stevia or some other alternate sugar form, but to really take the sugar out of your diet may require a little more of a daring trial to the normal expectations. Instead of pie, cheesecake, cake or cookies, consider fresh fruit, served with nuts or cheese. If you were going to spend ten or fifteen dollars on a cake or pie, just think how much fresh fruit that could buy. Fresh pineapple, mangos, strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries are always scrumptious. What are your families’ favorite fresh fruits? And then serve some mixed nuts and/or an assortment of cheeses alongside the fruit. Have you ever had a slice of fresh apple, like honeycrisp, with a chunk of cheddar cheese? Yum! It is a combination I discovered with hot apple pie, which is not a part of my diet these days. Granulated sugar, that is used in making most desserts, is poison! Poison to our bodies and fuel for cancer proliferation. Research it for yourself and consider that as you plan your Valentine’s menu. On the other hand…sweets to the sweets. Life is too short not to enjoy some chocolate with that fruit!

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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