He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?" – Numbers 23:12

Today's Scripture Reading (December 18, 2021): Numbers 23

I rewatched the 2017 animated film "The Star" with my grandkids at the beginning of December. The movie follows the antics of Bo the donkey, Dave the dove, and a Ruth lamb, as they follow the star of Bethlehem. But each has their own dream, which they are also trying to follow. For Ruth, the dream is the star. She has left her flock and wandered off, wondering what this bright light in the sky might mean. For Bo, the dream is to be part of the Royal Caravan and carry the things belonging to royalty. For Dave, the dream is to be with Bo. He is a dove, and he could fly wherever he wants, even with the Royal Caravan that Bo dreams of, and yet he simply wants to be close to his friend. If Bo wants a Royal Caravan, Dave will go with Bo to the Royal Caravan.

Of course, a wrench is thrown into Bo's plans when he meets a young woman named Mary who is engaged to a man named Joseph. Bo falls in love with Mary and will do anything to protect her, even if that means never achieving the dream of living with the Royal Caravan. And as the time grows near for the birth of Jesus, so does Bo's need to be with Mary. Bo has no idea what will happen, but Mary has become his dream.

At the end of the tale, Bo realizes that his dream of being with the Royal Caravan has actually been fulfilled. As the wise men come and lay their gifts in front of the Baby King, Bo exclaims that he had carried a King on his back when he carried Mary during the final days of their journey. Bo, Dave, and Ruth find that they have fulfilled the will of God in all that they did to protect this couple and their unborn child from the dangers that seemed ready to overwhelm them. It is a moment of incredible power and joy when we realize that what we want and what God wants lies on the same path.

But that convergence of purposes was something Balaam would never know. Whether he realized it or not, Balaam's rebellion had caused him to believe that God was something to be manipulated rather than a friend who could be followed. Balaam wanted to please Balak and earn the money and privileges that the king had promised him. But God's desire lay along another path. Balaam couldn't please both himself and satisfy his dreams and those of Balak, as well as follow his God. He had to make a choice between the two, and he chose the path that went away from God. Balaam chose to follow his desires instead of God's, and that always results in great sadness. You can almost hear the sadness in Balaam's voice as he whines, "Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?"

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Numbers 24