You know, this is probably the most random blog ever. No rhyme or consistency whatsoever. But that is exactly how my mind works! To be honest, I began blogging about something and it just didn't "feel" right so I deleted it all and started over!
I just finished saying bedtime prayers with Anna Kate and Hanna. They sometimes ask me to say the prayers and unless I know they are really sick, I refuse. I tell them that is THEIR prayers to God, not mine. I am taken aback some nights at their prayers. Just a couple nights ago, Hanna asked God to help her love her enemies because it was next to impossible to love someone who is mean to you. Then a week or so ago, Anna Kate said, "God, will you please help me to be a better person". Anna Kate always prays for those who don't have enough food to eat. Can I just tell you it sends my soul soaring when I hear them pray things like that without being prompted.
Anyway, as I was laying there with Anna Kate for a bit after we said prayers, my mind went to Balaam and his talking donkey (I told you this was a totally random blog). God can do some crazy stuff to get our attention can't He? In Numbers 22:28, the LORD caused Balaam's donkey to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me these three times?" it asked Balaam.
See, God had already told Balaam once not to go with the officials of Midian and Moab when they came and asked him to go curse the Israelites who were camped east of the Jordan River. So Balaam, after sleeping on it and "visiting with God", told them no, even though they were offering him a nice little sum of money. Balaam obeyed God and told them to "Go on home! The LORD will not let me go with you." So the officials went back to the king and told them Balaam said no. Well Mr. Hotty Toddy King Balak wouldn't take no for an answer so he "sent a larger number of more distinguished officials" to Balaam. The officials relayed the message that Balak would do ANYTHING, I MEAN ANYTHING HE WANTED, if Balaam would just curse the Israelites. Not making any impulsive decisions, Balaam once again sleeps on it and I am sure the Lord wants to ring his ever loving neck because He's already told him ONCE not to go and here Balaam is nagging the mess out of Him again. You know it irritates you when you tell someone no and then they just keep on and on and finally you tell them to go ahead and do it but you are totally ticked about it?!? Well, God is feeling the same way. So the LORD tells Balaam, "Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But be sure to do only what I tell you to do." So off Balaam goes to saddle his donkey are ready himself for the journey. Well, well, well, what do ya know...God is still pretty ticked at the whole thing so He sends an angel to accompany Balaam on his journey.
Balaam's mind is probably occupied about this journey and what he's gonna do when he gets there when all of a sudden, his donkey bolts off the road and into a field when he sees the angel standing in the road with a sword. Furious, Balaam starts beating the mess out of the donkey and gets him back on the road. God, not letting up, places the angel where the road was narrow. The donkey crushed Balaams foot against the wall trying to squeeze by the angel and again, madder than fire, Balaam beats his donkey.
Third times a charm I've heard. The donkey comes to another narrow place in the road, so narrow the donkey knew he couldn't get by so he just laid down! Talk about the straw that broke the donkey's back (I couldn't help it), Balaam flipped out and started beating him for a third time. And now is my FAVORITE part: the LORD caused Balaam's donkey to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me these three times?" it asked Balaam. Are you kidding me? A talking donkey? And you thought that only happened in Shrek?!?
You see, God WILL get our attention, even if He has to make a donkey talk! How many times does He tell us to do something and we ignore Him? I can tell you I certainly have!!! We want to do things OUR WAY but we don't always have the most pleasant outcome when we do that do we? We feel like our lives have bolted off the road into the field; or maybe we have been "banged up" from some dumb decisions WE have made when we didn't listen to what God was telling us to do. Maybe we feel like life is at a standstill and we are waiting for our donkey to stand back up so we can continue our journey. You see, God never abandoned Balaam. He was there with him on every occasion just like He is with us. He's just waiting on us to give up OUR way and travel HIS way. Maybe it's time to look around and see if we have some "talking donkeys" we might need to listen to!
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