Balaam’s Donkey

 

Cartoon created by Martin Young

Miracles without Faith, part 2

Introduction

Anyone who knows the classic Rex Harrison movies, would be familiar with the movie, Doctor Doolittle. A man who was capable of talking with the animals. There was an updated version, with Robert Downey, Jr., in which you could hear the animals speak to him in the English language.

Although this is simply movie magic, embracing the creativity of a family fun film, an actual event did occur in scripture where an animal spoke to its owner. For this story, we turn to the book of Numbers and chapter 22.

 

The Story of Balaam

Balaam was a well-known soothsayer (Josh. 13:22), a deceiver who “foretold” things for money. If someone wanted an individual, or group, blessed or cursed they would send for him.

Balak, the king of the Moabites, was just that individual who wanted the children of Israel cursed because they encamped next to his kingdom (Num. 22:3-6). He sent messengers to Balaam to complete that task.

When they arrived and consulted with Balaam, he told them to spend the night and he would consult with God on the matter. When he did, God told him not to go with the messengers as the people of Israel were blessed. So, Balaam sent them on their way. (vs. 8-13)

 

The Donkey Speaks!

The messengers return to Balak and then are immediately sent back to persuade Balaam to come with them. This time God tells Balaam to go with them (vs. 15-21).

In the next few verses, the donkey sees an Angel of the Lord, with a sword drawn, standing in its path. Three times the donkey attempts to go a different way or stop altogether, and three times Balaam strikes the donkey for disobedience (vs. 22-27).

Then a curious thing happens. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.” Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face (vs. 28-31).

The story continues in which the Angel of the Lord confronts Balaam about striking his donkey and Balaam begs for forgiveness (vs. 32-35). When you get the chance, read the rest of the story. But, for now, let’s focus on this miracle.

As you read, God opened the mouth of the donkey so that it might speak to Balaam in the human language. Yet, how much faith did the donkey have before this miracle took place? None! Obviously, the donkey is nothing more than a beast of burden. It can’t reason within itself. Being a soothsayer, Balaam most likely didn’t have much faith prior to this miracle taking place. And what of the men who traveled with them? It doesn’t say anything about them, nor does it mention that they heard the donkey speak nor saw the Angel of the Lord.

As we have stated before, faith does not need to be present for a miracle to occur. Faith would be produced after the fact but, not necessarily before.

But, as the apostle Paul writes, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We develop our faith when we read the scriptures. As Paul states, For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We do not need to see things as proof that God is with us.

 

Conclusion

Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The things in the Old Testament were written for us to learn from and to know that God used miracles even back then to prove that He is the One True Living God.

We don’t need miracles today to help us believe that Jesus is the Son of God or that God, Himself, is real. It’s through the studying of the scriptures that we become complete individuals (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and obtain faith (Heb. 11:6).