2 Peter 2:16 – But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
Balaam, a willful and sinful prophet from the Old Testament, is the “he” who was rebuked. Simply put, he was “rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey.” We know the story from Numbers 22. Balaam was an Old Testament prophet of God. Balaam was obviously accustomed to the Lord speaking to him (V8, V19). V9 and V20 definitely reveals that God visited and spoke to Balaam. However, Balaam was a willful man. He was greedy for gold and silver, and, it appears, also for the acknowledgement and praise of men.
God told Balaam to not go with the Moabites to curse the Israeli’s because God had blessed them. Balaam was greedy and so kept asking God, though God had clearly expressed His will to Balaam. After Balaam persisted, God did not forbid Balaam to go with the Moabites, but it displeased God. Balaam had persisted, against the clear guidance of the Lord, to have his own will, and not the Lord’s will done. Balaam’s persistence against the will of God displeased God. So God sent an angel to slay Balaam. Three times Balaam’s donkey saved Balaam’s life by avoiding the angel who stood in the road with a drawn sword. Each time Balaam, who had not seen the angel and had beat the donkey for disobeying him. Finally the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and the donkey asked Balaam why was Balaam beating him. Balaam, in a rage, answered the donkey that he was mad at the donkey for making a fool of him. Finally the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes so that he could see the angel with the sword. The angel of the Lord chided Balaam for beating the donkey who had saved Balaam’s life. Balaam repented and then spoke as the Lord instructed Him to speak.
Fascinating story. The story makes me wonder, are we sometimes more blind than a donkey to spiritual matters. Is it sometimes true of us that, though we have the Spirit of God within and we have the holy Word of God, we go against the teachings and urgings of both? Can we remember times when we have heard the Lord telling us to stop what we were doing, but we did not? Sometimes what we were doing, how we were acting, or what we were saying, were so obviously us acting out our own will. Perhaps angry because of hurt, instead of keeping quiet and not lashing out in anger, we let loose actions and words of anger. Afterward we regret the action or words we did because they leave behind hurt. I know I have. I think back, after being dumber than a donkey, and regret my actions and words. I hurt because I remember that God was trying to stop me but a barreled ahead. Oh I thank God for the sure forgiveness of God (1 John 1:9). Praise God that Jesus died for all my sins. But I have shed many a tear while wishing I had heeded the clear Word and will of God rather than rushing to act out my own will.
Note from Joshua 13:22 – Balaam was later killed for sin of divination. Apparently, his rebellion against the Word of God became a slide he could not stop.
Thank God for His love and patience. By these we have the forgiveness of all of our sins. I pray that our love for God will be expressed through ready obedience to His word. It pleases the Lord more to obey rather than to repent (1 Samuel 15:22). Lord, please renew us that we would run to obedience so that repentance is not necessary. And we thank You that You readily, and every time, accept our repentance through Jesus our Savior and Lord.
Moral to the story: Obey God and follow His leading or we may find ourselves arguing with donkeys who are more right on than we are. Or worse.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.