Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. – Revelation 2:14

Today's Scripture Reading (May 29, 2021): Revelation 2

I still remember where I was the first time I heard someone talk about "the donkey that spoke" in church. I am not sure why I was not aware of the story, but the Pastor was participating in a children's exercise called "Stump the Pastor" when he launched into the story of Balaam's donkey, the donkey who talked. It just didn't sound like a story that could be found in the Bible. And yet, there it is in the Book of Numbers.

The Pastor that day talked about "the donkey that spoke," but he didn’t delve into the importance of the story. The Pastor's version of "the donkey that spoke" was a children's tale suited to the audience at that moment, but the story behind the talking donkey is definitely an adult-only tale.

"The donkey that spoke" is really about God trying to get the attention of a prophet named Balaam. Having your donkey, or maybe, for us, our dog or cat, talk to you is an excellent way to get your attention. Balaam was a prophet. Balaam's problem was that he was willing to be a prophet for hire, selling his services to those who were willing to pay him. Of course, God cannot be bought, which was something that Balaam came to understand. Three times he was paid to curse Israel, and three times his curse came out as a blessing.

But Balaam understood what God expected of Israel, and so he was able to counsel Balak on how to get around God's will by tempting Israel into sin. Because of the ministry of Balaam, Israel ate food that had been sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality, placing a blockage between the nation and their God. As a result, Balaam is remembered not as a prophet of God but as a corrupt prophet who taught the enemies of God how to work around God's righteousness.

As John listens to Jesus speak to the Church in Pergamum, one of Jesus's complaints is that some of those in Pergamum held to the theology of Balaam. Most likely, that meant that they were teaching about ways to get around God's will rather than accepting it. And our task is never to find a way to get around God's will but rather to submit to it. Our mission is and has always been to allow God to shape our lives so that we conform to what it is that God is demanding from us.       

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Revelation 3