ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monite Me 8, 2023

The Wise Donkey of a Foolish Prophet פתח

KO E ‘ASI POTO MO E PALOFITA VALE

NUMBERS 22:27-28

WHEN THE DONKEY SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, SHE LAY DOWN UNDER BALAAM. AND BALAAM'S ANGER WAS KINDLED, AND HE STRUCK THE DONKEY WITH HIS STAFF. 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?"

NOMIPA 22:27-28

27 Pea ‘i he sio ‘a e ‘asi ki he ‘Āngelo ‘a Sihova, na‘a ne tō fo‘ohifo mo Pēlami: pea puke ‘a e ‘ita ‘o Pēlami, ‘o ne taa‘i ‘a e ‘asi ‘aki ‘ene me‘a kinisi. 28 Pea to‘o ‘e Sihova ‘a e ngutu ‘o e ‘asi, ‘o ne lea kia Pēlami, Ko e hā ‘aku kuo u fai kiate koe ke ke taa‘i ai au ‘a e tu‘o tolu ni?

Balaam is a comic figure. This prophet for hire was blind to the danger his donkey saw with twenty-twenty vision. He was employed to curse Israel, but he couldn't even manage his own beast. Finally, like a toddler who doesn't get his way, Balaam throws a hissy fit and gets into a shouting match with a seemingly wise and stoic donkey. Slapstick humor, biblical style. That God is controlling events is obvious from the language of "opening." God patach ("opened") the donkey's mouth, as when God patach the mouth of prophets (e.g., Ezek. 33:22). Rather than heehawing, this animal outprophets the prophet!

Balaam was eventually strong-armed by God into blessing Israel rather than cursing them. Israel's army eventually neutralized him (Num. 31:8), but his memory lived on in infamy. Even in the New Testament, he is synonymous with false teaching (Rev. 2:14). He is a vivid reminder that God will always find someone or something to speak his truth, even if stones-or a donkey-does his preaching (Luke 19:40).

O Lord, open our lips, that our mouths may declare your praise (Ps. 51:15).