Do you remember the story of Balaam in the book if Numbers?
Fearing the Israelites’ power, Balaak wanted to hire Balaam to put a curse on God’s people.
Balaam refused to go, because the Lord told him not to go. Balaam again sent messengers, begging Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. The Lord then told Balaam that he could go, but, he had to only say what the Lord told him to say.
While on the road to Balaak, Balaam’s donkey refuses to walk. The animal spots an angel in blocking their path. Balaam beats the donkey. When the donkey speaks, asking why he’s being beaten, this is Balaam’s response:
Numbers Chapter 22:27-31
27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”
30 So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?”
And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
Don’t you think that Balaam’s response to his speaking donkey is strange?
He didn’t appear shocked or dumbfounded that his donkey was speaking to him!
How would you react if your dog or cat started talking to you? Wouldn’t you think that was strange? Wouldn’t you be shocked or scared to have this talking creature in your house?
Was it possible that Balaam had witnessed talking animals before he went on this trip? Had he conversed with his donkey before, and it was just never noted in the scriptures?
Share your thoughts!
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I have often wondered the same thing. And have wondered if there had been other animals have talked, but it seems so unlikely. But his reaction is even more unlikely!
Hi, Darlene
Thx for stopping by and commenting on my blog! I agree with you on both points. If there were other talking animals in the Bible, then, I guess the scriptures didn’t mention those creatures – oh, just thought of one, the snake in the Garden of Eden!
That is strange. I would not have reacted so calmly. Makes me think if mental I’ll people who who talk to things that aren’t thefe, or things that don’t talk back.
Hi, Deanna
Thx for stopping by my blog and for leaving a comment. I had not thought of it that way, but, you do have a point. It does make me think about mental people who will sometimes talk to inanimate objects. Some mental people may actually witness talking animals – but it’s all in their mind. So, if they experience a real talking animal, they won’t be surprised since they’ve “seen/heard” it before. Interesting observation.