The Mighty Call of a Donkey..

I woke up thinking about a donkey, lol, actually about a specific donkey, Balaam's Jack Arse.

My first thought was, no wonder people don't believe the word. I know, my momentary feelings of disbelief are shameful. I get it. Bare with me please, it's just that I thought, “come on, donkey's don't have the anatomy for speech, even if they had the ability to reason”. The way their jaws and mouths operate, it is impossible. If this story isn't true, then how can any of the bible be true? I have moments like these, reading things that seem just too far fetched, like when I read about nephlims.

When these skeptical thoughts surface, I stop dead in my tracks of doubt. I attempt to reason instead. Maybe, He just telepathically heard thoughts of the donkey, or maybe this or maybe that. Nooooo, this is not how my faith is to work. I don't accept Him or the history of events shared in His word, based on my ability to substantiate or fathom the possibility. I am to believe, period, end of story.

I do accept that the angel of God made it possible for the creature to talk, so that Balaam would be compelled to give a blessing. I think we can take another cool component out of this information about His creatures. I think this speaks to the awareness of animals, even their intelligence. I do think animals will be a part of the Heavenly design. I know folks believe that the animals told of, in that glorious estate to come, are just symbolic. I think that with some it may be true, but not completely, not all. I know He made animals for us and for each other other. More importantly, He,having all He ever needs, made everything for His pleasure, including animals with their own set of possibilities.

Yes, I find the story of Balaam and His donkey of awareness and communication interesting, and hard to imagine. However, I take great pleasure in seeing His power, using the lesser of beings, ones not made for such things, to show things mighty and worthy. I think it also demonstrates the mercy and connection He shares with all His creation. I love how the donkey's role in the word has been super substantial. Upon the back of one rode our Mary as they, her and Joseph, were looking for a place to have their baby, our King. Amazingly, this Majestic and Worthy King, our Lord and Savior, also set upon a donkey, as He entered the city of Jerusalem, boldly demonstrating His beautiful heart and mind of a humble servant. We often ponder are we called, do we matter? Can we really make a difference for our Lord? I think the answer is not only found in the mighty men and women's accounts given in the bible. We see even the simple minded, so called lowly, animals being called by God for a prestigious job of honor. How inspiring it is knowing that even stubborn creatures like donkeys have callings. May we all answer His call.

I think the point of the story is that Yahweh was on Israel's side and he was defending them against the oracles of Balaam. Every time Balaam tries to curse Israel, he ends up blessing them instead. The funny thing is that Balaam keeps trying even though it's "obvious" that he's being opposed by Yahweh himself. In fact, it's so obvious that even something as stubborn as a donkey can see it. Balaam is more stubborn than and old jack.... you get the drift.

My second point is that this looks to me to be Israelite humor or some form of satire, probably based on real events surrounding Balaam and his failure to curse Israel and/or his curses turning into blessings and/or that the widely known and respect Balaam was nothing more than a buffoon. So I'm not sure the story is to be read literally as if whether or not donkeys can talk is the point of the story. I think the original hearers of the story would have probably LOL'd when Balaam has to be told by a donkey that he's being opposed by Yahweh. I think one can take the point of the story, the genre in which it is written, and still believe the point without believing in literal talking donkeys. I don't take talking donkey literally - it looks like humorous satire to me.

On a related note, Balaam is known from extra biblical sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_Alla_Inscription

Now see that makes sense. Well thought out and yes entertaining and funny, but you took from the story exactly what was meant, or too me intended. Hmmmm, yes I get your drift, lol. Thanks so much for your input. I kinda feel silly.

I woke up thinking about a donkey, lol, actually about a specific donkey, Balaam's Jack Arse.

Of course Balaam's donkey spoke. Scripture has recorded it. This is another instance where believers need to be willing to say what Scripture says. The same with the talking serpent in the garden. The same with the fish that swallowed Jonah. These are points that atheists constantly bring up to you the Christian as a reason to disbelieve the Bible.

Don't fall for it. Believe what the Bible says. Be willing to say, yes I believe that because the Bible says that. Don't be intimidated by non-believers.

Quantrill

And people argue human females can't preach. If a female ass could speak by God's will...well, you know.

On a more serious studious note, isn't it interesting how God dealt with Israel's adversary (Balak the King of Moab) and the Israelites did not even know what the enemy was trying to conspire against them?! LOL!

I wonder how many times, enemies have risen up against me and God silenced them and I never knew! Truly, our God sees and deals with our adversaries - probably on a daily basis!

That was not a jackass or a jackarse (if such a term even exists). It was simply called an "ass", which was not a pejorative or vulgar term at the time the Bible was translated. It was equivalent to "donkey".

And it is clear from the narrative that this FEMALE donkey did speak intelligibly and was heard by Balaam, and actually saved his miserable life. In this incident Balaam was the jackass for even agreeing to talk to Balak.

I woke up thinking about a donkey, lol, actually about a specific donkey, Balaam's Jack Arse.

My first thought was, no wonder people don't believe the word. I know, my momentary feelings of disbelief are shameful. I get it. Bare with me please, it's just that I thought, “come on, donkey's don't have the anatomy for speech, even if they had the ability to reason”. The way their jaws and mouths operate, it is impossible. If this story isn't true, then how can any of the bible be true? I have moments like these, reading things that seem just too far fetched, like when I read about nephlims.

When these skeptical thoughts surface, I stop dead in my tracks of doubt. I attempt to reason instead. Maybe, He just telepathically heard thoughts of the donkey, or maybe this or maybe that. Nooooo, this is not how my faith is to work. I don't accept Him or the history of events shared in His word, based on my ability to substantiate or fathom the possibility. I am to believe, period, end of story.

I do accept that the angel of God made it possible for the creature to talk, so that Balaam would be compelled to give a blessing. I think we can take another cool component out of this information about His creatures. I think this speaks to the awareness of animals, even their intelligence. I do think animals will be a part of the Heavenly design. I know folks believe that the animals told of, in that glorious estate to come, are just symbolic. I think that with some it may be true, but not completely, not all. I know He made animals for us and for each other other. More importantly, He,having all He ever needs, made everything for His pleasure, including animals with their own set of possibilities.

Yes, I find the story of Balaam and His donkey of awareness and communication interesting, and hard to imagine. However, I take great pleasure in seeing His power, using the lesser of beings, ones not made for such things, to show things mighty and worthy. I think it also demonstrates the mercy and connection He shares with all His creation. I love how the donkey's role in the word has been super substantial. Upon the back of one rode our Mary as they, her and Joseph, were looking for a place to have their baby, our King. Amazingly, this Majestic and Worthy King, our Lord and Savior, also set upon a donkey, as He entered the city of Jerusalem, boldly demonstrating His beautiful heart and mind of a humble servant. We often ponder are we called, do we matter? Can we really make a difference for our Lord? I think the answer is not only found in the mighty men and women's accounts given in the bible. We see even the simple minded, so called lowly, animals being called by God for a prestigious job of honor. How inspiring it is knowing that even stubborn creatures like donkeys have callings. May we all answer His call.

I get what you mean. It’s not so much doubt but in complete awe of how God can do the impossible. Time after time. And that’s the beauty of Him.

I am in awe sometimes of how He manages to oversee millions of people in the world but still have the time to give His attention to me. At times on a personal level. It’s mind-blowing

God is Great.

Perhaps the donkey was a "smart" ass. LOL!

I woke up thinking about a donkey, lol, actually about a specific donkey, Balaam's Jack Arse.

My first thought was, no wonder people don't believe the word. I know, my momentary feelings of disbelief are shameful. I get it. Bare with me please, it's just that I thought, “come on, donkey's don't have the anatomy for speech, even if they had the ability to reason”. The way their jaws and mouths operate, it is impossible. If this story isn't true, then how can any of the bible be true? I have moments like these, reading things that seem just too far fetched, like when I read about nephlims.

When these skeptical thoughts surface, I stop dead in my tracks of doubt. I attempt to reason instead. Maybe, He just telepathically heard thoughts of the donkey, or maybe this or maybe that. Nooooo, this is not how my faith is to work. I don't accept Him or the history of events shared in His word, based on my ability to substantiate or fathom the possibility. I am to believe, period, end of story.

I do accept that the angel of God made it possible for the creature to talk, so that Balaam would be compelled to give a blessing. I think we can take another cool component out of this information about His creatures. I think this speaks to the awareness of animals, even their intelligence. I do think animals will be a part of the Heavenly design. I know folks believe that the animals told of, in that glorious estate to come, are just symbolic. I think that with some it may be true, but not completely, not all. I know He made animals for us and for each other other. More importantly, He,having all He ever needs, made everything for His pleasure, including animals with their own set of possibilities.

Yes, I find the story of Balaam and His donkey of awareness and communication interesting, and hard to imagine. However, I take great pleasure in seeing His power, using the lesser of beings, ones not made for such things, to show things mighty and worthy. I think it also demonstrates the mercy and connection He shares with all His creation. I love how the donkey's role in the word has been super substantial. Upon the back of one rode our Mary as they, her and Joseph, were looking for a place to have their baby, our King. Amazingly, this Majestic and Worthy King, our Lord and Savior, also set upon a donkey, as He entered the city of Jerusalem, boldly demonstrating His beautiful heart and mind of a humble servant. We often ponder are we called, do we matter? Can we really make a difference for our Lord? I think the answer is not only found in the mighty men and women's accounts given in the bible. We see even the simple minded, so called lowly, animals being called by God for a prestigious job of honor. How inspiring it is knowing that even stubborn creatures like donkeys have callings. May we all answer His call.