https://odb.org/MY/2023/02/28/a-baboon-a-donkey-and-me
In Numbers 22, we read the account on Balaam, whose donkey he was riding on, had diverted from the path and was beaten 3 times by Balaam. The donkey then spoke and asked Balaam why he had beaten it when it was the only donkey he had been riding, meaning to say, he would have no donkey if it had died and it had been a faithful and hardworking donkey all this while.
Later, the LORD showed Balaam what the donkey saw, which led it to divert its path. It was an angel of the LORD with a sword drawn, and Balaam bowed down to the angel. This episode was narrated to tell how the LORD blocked a non-Israeli prophet and diviner from cursing the people of Israel as commissioned by the King of Moab. In the end, the angel allowed Balaam to proceed, and instead of cursing, he blessed the Israelites.
The oft-mentioned spiritual principle from this episode is that if God could use a donkey, how much more could God use us as human beings? There is no denying that principle, and it is very true as history has shown how simple uneducated men were made the first disciples of Christ who spearheaded the early propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ordinary people could be turned into a powerhouse of faith by the glory of the risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit!
However, a note of caution. As much as the speaking donkey is both miraculous and even magical, the quest of a servant in Christ is often long and ardous. In reality, there are magical moments of the supernatural breaking into the natural in terms of miracles, signs, and wonders, and healing, but mostly, it is a mundane and long suffering life as God’s faithful.
Moses was 40 when he responded to God’s call but spent another 40 years in the fields and mountains caring livestock before he actually started his mission to bring the 600,000 Israeli men and their women and children out of Egypt into the Promised Land of Canaan. Abraham spent many years on the road, including time in Egypt due to famine, before finally settling on Canaan land. Joseph was sold into slavery and spent at least 13 years in a dungeon for a falsely accused crime before he started ascending into the corridors of power in Egypt.
Even Jesus spent 30 years as an unassuming carpenter before he started His ministry even though his birth was greeted by the star of Bethlehem, which guided the Kings from Orientland to bring Him gold, frankincense and myrrh as well as a host of heavenly angels rejoicing and proclaiming the birth of Christ, the Messiah to shepherds tending to their flocks at night!
As much as God can take whatever we have and whatever we are and turn us into beautiful sculptures of faith for His glory, it takes time and much investment on our part to be that person God wants us to be. Nothing happens overnight, and it will likely take our lifetime to achieve all that the Lord has planned for us. It will take all that we have and all that we are.
But the beauty of all that is God will be with us all the way and will bring us much further than what we could ever be if we did our best on our own. A journey of faith serving God is really heaven on earth as the LORD dwells in the midst of His people. It is Revelation 22 in the present as we serve Him and give our lives and hearts to Him. Even if He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil for His staff and His rod comfort (protect) us. Be encouraged and strive on in our service for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Ronnie's Thoughts 