Angels and a talking donkey – more Disney than Bible

Today we encounter the story of Balaam, his talking donkey and his seven visions, which sounds more like the Disney script for the forthcoming Shrek and the Seven Oracles than Numbers chapters 22 to 24. This is probably the most familiar story in Numbers as the talking donkey and the presence of the angel of God make it an accessible story for Sunday School teachers and preachers alike.

The story viewpoint changes for the first time since the beginning of Exodus. Up until now we have seen every step, every battle and every conversation with God from the perspective of the Israelites as they travel across the wilderness. But suddenly we are seeing things from the viewpoint of Balak, the king of the Moabites.

If you’ve read the book or seen the film of Book Thief, you will know it tells the story of a German girl in the Second World War. It cleverly changes our world view as we see the family protect a Jewish man (hurrah!) and then get bombed by the British (boo!). We feel anger at the senseless destruction of innocent lives – and yet, from a British perspective, the book is about “our enemies”. It challenges our thinking to see things from a different point of view. Standing in the shoes of our enemies, especially in the small, worn shoes of a frightened young girl fearing for her life, fills us with compassion and revulsion at the horror of war.

And so now we stand with the king of the Moabites. He is panicked when he sees the Israelites advancing in his direction and sends word to Balaam, a renowned prophet to come and bless the Moabites and curse the Israelites.

A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.  Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed. Numbers 22:5-6

Balaam refuses to come when God tells him that he must not curse the Israelites. After several requests God allows Balaam to go with emissaries of Moab (now that sounds like the title for a good film too). So he saddles his donkey and sets off to meet King Balak.

However, on the way, his donkey sees the Angel of God on the path ahead standing in the way. Three times the donkey saves Balaam’s life by not taking him to certain death by being touched by the Angel. Of course, Balaam is livid at his recalcitrant donkey and you should read the next line in voice of Shrek to give it its full meaning

Donkey! You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now. Numbers 22:29

The donkey talks back and explains about the Angel on the road. Now Balaam realises God is serious and this is going to be a very tough assignment. He has to meet Balak and give him a prophesy which Balaam expects will be pro-Israel and anti-Moab because he has to say whatever God tells him to say. The Angel on the road is warning of what will happen if he doesn’t do what God wants him to do.

So Balaam gives Balak seven oracles or prophecies about the situation. In each, the Israelites are blessed and the tribes around them are effectively cursed. Balak is livid at Balaam for coming to him with such a hopeless message. The story that starts with such energy for protecting Balak’s people from the incoming hoard ends with the sad line:

Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way. Numbers 24:25

The future could not be changed. No blessing was coming on the Moabite people. Seeing it from a Moabite perspective, it all looks pretty grim.

Being a prophet is never easy. Being a prophet with a tough message is even harder. No one wants to hear that message and while killing the messenger can never change the message, it seems to happen all too often in the Bible and beyond.

Being a prophet in the modern age is no easier. Many heroes of the last 100 years began bringing a message against the status quo. A message that spelled trouble for those in power.

Martin Luther King brought a message of hope and change for the black community, but for many in power, it felt like a threat to what they had. MLK was killed in what many believe was a conspiracy to keep him quiet to stop the change that was coming.

Mahatma Gandhi, another leader who sought to bring change through civil and peaceful disobedience, paid with his life when some people were not happy with his message and the changes he was seeking to bring.

And we could go, history is full of stories of people we now consider heroes, who at the start were bringing a tough message at a difficult time. They were bringing an inconvenient truth and some people in power fought against it.

While none of us are likely to be the next Martin Luther King, Gandhi or Emily Pankhurst, we all make daily decisions about whether we are able to stand up for the things we believe in when we know our views will not be appreciated. Perhaps we need to take a leaf out of Balaam’s book today and be willing to stand up for the truth even when telling a king something he really doesn’t want to hear.

I can’t guess what challenges you will face today but I know from experience there are moments when I know the right thing to do but I am fearful of doing it.

• A racist passenger on the bus making comments about Jews and Romanians – should I stay quiet or stand alongside those who are being unfairly treated?
• A friend who likes and shares Britain First or BNP posts on Facebook? Do I ignore it or do I say something that might jeopardise our friendship?
• A colleague at work is going through a tough time and needs someone to support to her in a disciplinary hearing. If I go with her, will I be seen as a troublemaker too?
• A building being developed close to your home that will provide cheap accommodation for those who are struggling, but everyone locally doesn’t want “those sort of people” living round here. Should I get involved to support those who are trying to work their way out of poverty?

Whatever challenge you face today, I hope you will not be afraid to speak the truth as you see it.