16 February | Teens
«And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?» Numbers 22: 28
What would you do if your pet suddenly talked to you? Would you scream, laugh or be in disbelief? Believe it or not, the Bible tells a story just like that! The protagonist of our story is Balaam, a man hired by King Balak to curse the people of Israel. But God had other plans. He only wanted blessings for His people.
On their way to meet Balak, Balaam and his donkey encountered a divine obstacle: an angel blocked the way. When the donkey saw the angel, he wouldn’t move! He refused to follow, saving Balaam's life. Balaam, not seeing the angel, was very angry and did not understand the reason for that behavior. Imagine his surprise when God allowed the donkey to speak! Jeez! Yes, the donkey explained that he stopped because he saw the angel, a vision that Balaam can also see then.
Even with pressure from King Balak to curse Israel, each time Balaam tried, he could only pronounce blessings on God's people. This shows how God protects and blesses His people, even when others try to do evil to them. Know that God has power over all things, and that His blessings are stronger than any curse. He will take care of your family every day, even if someone is wishing you harm!
Take Action
Try to imagine what it would be like if your pet could talk to you for a day. What would he say? Whoever in your family comes up with the best answer will not have to clean up your pet’s mess for a week, as a reward!