Thursday’s Verse:
From Numbers 22:28 ESV
Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
I don’t know what I’d do if one of the animals I’ve had in my life turned to me one day and said, “What have I ever done to you that you’ve given me this slop to eat?”
But it happened to Balaam in the Book of Numbers. Balaam wasn’t among the greatest characters in history or in the Bible. He sometimes spoke God’s Word and other times was a greedy money hoarder. One could say that his donkey was more morally upright than Balaam.
One day, Balaam woke up early in order to follow the Moabite leaders. On the road, the angel of the Lord stood in front of the donkey, sword drawn, causing it to veer off the road. Balaam, who didn’t see the angel, got angry with his donkey and beat him. After the third time, the Lord allowed the donkey to speak, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
While Balaam didn’t see the angel of the Lord before him, the donkey did. But that was who Balaam was - sometimes standing with God, other times standing for his sinful self.
It is funny that our Lord allowed a donkey to speak to get Balaam’s attention and prompt him to do the right thing. There are times when each one of us needs this type of intervention from God. But we believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are called on to hold fast to our Lord’s words and promises. We don’t need a donkey, a dog, or even a parakeet to refocus our lives on the Lord.
All we need is the Holy Spirit, who guides our lives on the path of true faith in Jesus.
Today’s Prayers
Gracious Father, send Your Holy Spirit upon Your people today to guide all of us in the way of true faith. In Your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Photo by Daniel Fazio on Unsplash