A DONKEY'S POINT OF VIEW; BALAAMS STORY (Numbers 22:20-34)

“A DONKEY’S POINT OF VIEW (BALAAM’S STORY)”

(NUMBERS 22:20-34)

     She winced as the staff came down once again on her my back. There was nothing to do but prepare for the next blow. Over and over she braced herself for each new strike.

    What did I do to anger Master so? she asked herself. There was no where to go so I had to lie down.

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    It had only been this morning that she had been chosen to take Balaam on this most important trip. Moab would be their destination, a place she had heard others talk about out in the pasture.

    She tried to contain her excitement, her feet shuffling in the dust as the servant adjusted the striped blanket her back. Master was allowing her to take him on his important trip to Moab. She knew it was important because all the donkeys, having come with these many men, were of the best upbringing. Unlike her, they had been trained for carrying royalty and their luggage.

   Long fuzzy ears and a soft black nose centered in a patch of white fur were some of her best features. Her long eyelashes framed her eyes as if with eyeliner, topping off her sweet face. Her plush coat had been made ready for her master to stroke. She was a handsome donkey, indeed.

   Their journey began. Master Balaam, perched on her back, chattered to whom ever he would, the important men riding their donkeys behind us. Master seemed very pleased to be going.

    She, content when he was comfortable, gingerly stepped as to not jar him. Her joy was in pleasing Master.

     Hours passed by, almost boring, until they rounded a crook in the road. There before her stood the most beautiful Man she’d ever seen; His clothes, a bright, shining white; His face gentle, but determined; a sword held in His hand.

     He would not move from before her. She had to move around Him or risk dumping her Master in the dirt. She, protecting her Master from either a collision or a fall, quickly side-stepped into the field that skirted the road.

     Master didn’t seem to realize that she had protected him for he began to strike her with his staff. She veered back onto the road. In wanting to please her Master, she had just missed colliding into the Beautiful Man.

     Master must have thought that I wanted to stop and eat, she thought to herself. I don’t want him to think I’m selfish. I’ll walk even more careful now; show him I’m taking good care of him.

     More hours passed by, almost boring, until the road, hedged in by short walls, led them passed beautiful vineyards; vines laden with luscious, purple grapes.

     The Beautiful Man appeared suddenly before them once again. This time there would be no room to get off the road. This time she would need to squeeze between Him and the wall.

    The Master’s foot became wedged between her hide and the wall.

     Master let out a scream followed by many whacks on her rump with his staff. His words sounded angry and mean. She had hurt her Master, the very thing she had tried to prevent.

     I have to be much gentler in my gait, she thought. I will make this up to him. I should be protecting him and yet I’m hurting him. How could I hurt my Master like that?

     Once again, hours passed by, almost boring, until the road began to narrow; thick bushes and piles of rock funneled the road into just a few feet wide.

     Again the Beautiful Man appeared before them, only this time He stood in the only place that could be traveled. There was no room for her to veer left or right. She couldn’t go over or under Him.

     How do I move forward and protect my Master at the same time? She asked herself. I have already slowed our pace by stepping into the field. I’ve crushed his foot into a wall. How do I keep him safe now?

     Then she knew. She would simply lie down. Master would not fall, or get crushed or hurt.

     She stopped, folded her legs under herself, and gently lay on the road, not jarring

Master one bit.

 

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     She winced as the staff came down once again on her back. There was nothing to do but prepare for the next blow. Over and over she braced herself for each new strike.

    What did I do to anger Master so? She asked herself. There was no where to go so I had to lie down.

     Her thoughts became very loud in her head. And then she heard her voice like that of a human’s voice. The God that created her had released her voice to defend herself.

     “What did I do to you that caused you to hit me three times?” She spoke the Master’s language.

     Then he spoke back to her in words she understood.

      “You mocked me; made fun of me; made me look the fool to these important men.” Master Balaam told her. “If I had a sword, I’d kill you right now!”

      “I’ve been your donkey, the one you’ve ridden, ever since you bought me. Have I ever done this before?” She heard her human-voice say. “It’s not the usual thing I do, is it?”

      “No….,” Master said, as if something strange had just happened.

      Master’s eyes then grew round and large, his mouth dropping open, as he focused his attention on what was before them.

      The Beautiful Man loomed before them, the sword in His hand gleaming in the sun light. It was then that she realized Master had not been able to see The Beautiful Man until now. Master rolled off her back onto the dirt, his face to the earth.

      “Why did you hit the donkey three times?” Beautiful Man asked my Master. “I’ve come to stop you because I see you are reckless, over hasty, perverse and contrary. If it weren’t for your donkey, I would have killed you and she would have lived!”

      Master peeked up from the dirt and said, “I’ve sinned. I’ll turn around. I didn’t see you there and didn’t know you were trying to stop me.”

     Glancing over at her, his faithful, kind and merciful little donkey, Master smiled an apology, holding back fearful tears.

      “Go on with these men and do ONLY what I say, just as God told you before,” Beautiful Man said sternly.

     Master Balaam went on to do as God said; to bless Israel and not curse them.

     If not for the little donkey, Balaam would have been slain by the angel before he could have completed his assignment. Little donkey saved her Master's life.

    God had opened Balaam's eyes to see how his little donkey had patiently brought him to where God wanted him to be. She had seen what he hadn't, and with loving care and a heart of a servant, had protected him even as he hurt her. 

      I believe God opened both their eyes to see Jesus the Deliverer; the Beautiful Man.

      I also believe that the kind and merciful, the ones with servant hearts, see Jesus first and hear Him loudest...even if they are little donkeys.

Dialogue with My Beach (4-22-09)

“DIALOGUE WITH MY BEACH” (04/22/09)

Me: Good morning beach. You are beautiful this morning. How do you feel?

Beach: I’m warming up. The sun is just starting to shine on my sand. Do you like sitting on my sand?

Me: Oh, YES! I love the color of it. How’d it get to be this brownish, golden color?

Beach: Well, there are many things in the waters that lay beyond where we are. There are big rocks and mountains under there…some way out past the horizon. Because of the tides and storms those rock formations get pounded into little pieces and all mix together. Between that and the time it takes to get here, they turn into this color. Through erosion and natural phenomenon, this is the wonderful warm color they come to be.

Me: The color is so warm and inviting. I love the sparkles to my eyes and the softness to my touch and all the senses that are aroused as I sit here with you.

Beach: It’s nice, isn’t it? We have almost become one in our togetherness. I do have a lot I want to show and teach you. Do you have the time?

Me: Somehow, I will make the time. What should we start with, if I only have a few minutes?

Beach: Let me start out by showing you around. See to the left of you? That is what I call “the point”. The rocks have gathered and piled up over there to make a mini-mountain that juts out into the water. That is where I have chosen to put the lighthouse to guide in ships during rough seas and weather.

Me: I did notice that the waves out there are rougher than they are in front of us here.

Beach: Yes, they are. That is where human life is shown. Where everyday trials and tests are gone through. My lighthouse can guide humans through that rough water if they only pay attention to what the light and the sound of the “guiding-sound” is telling them. It will direct them to a calmer and safer place. But they have to watch, listen and obey.

Me: I can understand that. It would be easy to miss the lighthouse if they were in a storm. So the key is to watch for help. And listen for the “guiding-sound“.

Beach: That’s right. Many people pass right on by, because they are distracted by not looking beyond the storm. Help is right here. But they have to look beyond what their eyes see to be able to find the guidance and help that they truly need. Watching, listening and obeying is the key, as you said.

Me: What is that big, black, flat rock out there in front of us, almost to the horizon?

Beach: That is the only solid ground in the ocean. It is where you can go, and what you can focus on when you need to feel grounded. That is where you will find your strength anytime you need it. Look, it’s surrounded by calm, clear ocean. No large waves and the water around it is crystal clear. See, you can see the seahorses, the sharks, the dolphins, the jelly fish, and the sea plants, in that crystal clear water.

Me: It’s fantastic! What a beautiful calm place! I would love to go there!

Beach: You can and you will. But let me show you the jungle that lies just behind us.

Me: Yes, PLEASE! I’ve always been drawn to the animals and the wildness of the jungle. All the beautiful plants and flowers, smells and sounds, textures and temperatures. Please show me!

Beach: Right in the center of this island, is a meadow of moss. The moss is so thick that you can actually jump on it as a trampoline. It’s surrounded by flowers, vines, trees of all kinds, birds of bright, eye-candy-colors, friendly non-aggressive insects, lizards of various species, friendly animals that will let you snuggle with them. Everything is here for you to enjoy. All your senses will tingle with activity when you are here. It purpose is to rejuvenate you.

Me: Oh, it’s so beautiful! Can I come here any time I want? Especially when I’m needing an extra boost in my life?

Beach: Yes…anytime you want. All you have to do is close your eyes and think of the moss that you will sit on. It’s all here waiting for you, especially made for just you.

Me: This is so amazing! Thank you, beach! What can I give back to you? You have given me so much?

Beach: All I want from you is time. A little time each day, would be wonderful. Come here each day and it will be all that I require of you. I love it when you come here to spend time with me. We will get to know each other. We will know each others needs, wants, desires and become real friends.

Me: Oh, YES! I will try to not get so distracted with the business of life, and all it’s hub-bub, and make a real effort to be here. That should be easy, and I will really try!

Beach: Oh, it won’t be that easy. Life is full of people, tasks, and work. It won’t be easy at times. But I will know when you have put forth the effort to be here. I will know when you’ve set aside time to come here. That will please me very much. And who knows, maybe there will be, in that day when you are able to come daily, that I will create even more pleasure for your personal use.

Me: How could there be any more? There is so much here for me already! You sure are a giving beach, aren’t you?

Beach: I just want you happy. I just want you to have a place to go to that you can find total peace and freedom. I just want you free, happy, contented, and knowing that I’m here anytime you want to come here.

Me: Again, thank you, beach. You DO please me. Now, I just want to please you!

Beach: That is what I want to hear!