Friday, February 27, 2009
A talking donkey!
Shades of Shrek (Numbers 23:21-30). But that is not what grabs me about this story of the enigmatic Balaam. He is not one of the "chosen people" but he sure does have a relationship with God. He is asked to do something for pay that is against the will of God. I'm sure this was not his first "bless or curse" rodeo. People paid him to put his hex on people; that's why the king sent money-and dignitaries (body guards?). But before Balaam took this course of action he consulted God. The point to me as a Jesus follower is that I need to do the same thing-even when what I am being asked to do (or what is simply before me) is part of how I usually spend my life for Christ's sake. Balaam checked in with God before going, and that made all the difference to him-and though I'm sure it didn't make the king happy, what a lesson for him. And what a lesson for anyone who wants to pull Jesus to the center of their living-continually invest in a relationship of love and trust with him. The one who knows what we need to be up to (which side to be on and such) is Jesus. We might avoid a lot of missteps if we would first check in with him. No matter what the donkey says.
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I love this story- it makes me wonder how Mel Brooks would spin this in one of his movies. You would think Balaam would have said "Holy smoke! a talking donkey!". But no, he's complaining to the donkey because it made him look stupid. As if he doesn't already look crazy standing there arguing with that same donkey. I laughed out loud as I read this- how many people laugh out loud when they read the bible? I guess I'm just warped like that.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to bring our emotions to the text. It helps us find the emotions in it. So many read the bible flat, with no affect. In doing so we miss a lot of the humor and pathos and irony and sarcasm and naughtiness there.
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