Peter strongly criticises the heretical teachers of his day and the destruction they were bringing to the church. It is the same today. There seems to be much spiritual blindness. Perhaps we need more donkeys?!
“But Balaam was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.” (2 Peter 2:16)
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. (Numbers 22:23)
Donkeys that see what we at times cannot see.
Donkeys that know how to turn away instead of just carrying on.
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. (Numbers 22: 24-25)
Donkeys that will inflict pain on us in an attempt to wake us up.
Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. (Numbers 22: 26-27)
Donkeys that will crush our foot to try and wake us up from our blindness.
Donkeys that will lay down before the presence of God.
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” (Numbers 22: 31-33)
Donkeys that will stand in the way of the judgment of God for others.
Balaam’s donkey wasn’t anything but an ordinary donkey and yet he was wiser than his owner. The church needs more donkeys. People that don’t look wise perhaps but who know, see and hear God. People who may be sohumble that they are despised and looked down upon and even used BUT speaker louder and wiser and behave better than even prophets!
Missions Paul 