Be a Donkey

     The idiom, stubborn as a mule, seemed to be played out in Numbers 22:21-33, where a pagan diviner, Balaam, was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse Israel. The first "stubborn mule" was Balak, since he had no evidence that the Israelites, who had settled in large numbers near his territory intended to cause him or his people any harm, but he wanted them cursed anyway and tried three times to get the job done to no avail. 

    Our next "stubborn mule" was Balaam, who really wanted to get the grand compensation that King Balak offered him to perform the curse on Israel, but the LORD wouldn't allow him to succeed. Frustrated, as the king berated him in Numbers 22:38, Balaam said, "Well, I have come to you now...But I can't say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." Balaam used the term "God," rather than "the LORD," since he believed in many gods. 

    Our third "stubborn mule" was actually a donkey! (Fun fact: These are two different types of animals. The donkey is the descendent of an African ass. The mule is a hybrid animal of a female or "mare" horse and a male or "jack" donkey. A mule can't produce offspring.) So why is the donkey a "stubborn mule" in this story? He tried three times to protect his owner, Balaam, from a sword carrying angel in their path and was beaten by Balaam at each attempt, until God opened the donkey's mouth and allowed it to speak. The talking donkey pleaded, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" (Numbers 22:30).

    So the only "stubborn mule" that had any sense, in these scriptures, was the donkey! He saw the angel of the LORD standing in his path and knew better than to try to go through or around him. Finally, in Numbers 22:31, Ballam saw why his faithful donkey would not proceed down the path, "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." Later, in Numbers 22:34 Balaam admitted, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back." 

    I have been a "stubborn mule" more than three times in my lifetime. I also "beat my donkey," so to speak, by getting upset with myself, others, or the situation over and over, rather than humbly bowing, facedown to the Lord for guidance and direction. Only by the grace of God have I been spared, which leads me to Numbers 22:32-33, "The angel of the LORD asked him [Balaam], "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. 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." 

    To be spared from our reckless ways, we need to be a donkey, not a "stubborn mule." The donkey "saw the angel," "turned off the road," "it lay down under Balaam," and it asked, "what have I done?" If God will come to the rescue of an innocent donkey, He will surely send His angels concerning you and me, if we will look to the Lord, turn to the Lord, wait for Lord, and ask of the Lord, on whatever path we may be traveling. 

Psalms 91:11-12, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." 

Mathew 4:11, Then the devil left him [Jesus Christ], and angels came and attended him.