S)"30 The donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?' And he said, 'No.'"
Numbers 22:30 (NASB)
O) Unless a verse or passage is very clearly a hyperbole or a parable, I tend to look at it literally. In this case, my faith tells me God could open the donkey's mouth and additionally, I see no real reason why God wouldn't do it, if He knew it would get Balaam's attention. That's the real key, though. Based on this one-verse conversation, maybe the donkey never spoke literal words, but the effect is the important part - Balaam realized, whether by the donkey's words or simply her contrast to usual behavior, that there was something afoot. When his eyes were finally opened, in the next verse he sees the angel waiting to strike him down.
A) If something so obvious as a pet speaking ever occurred to me, I'm afraid my first reaction might simply be disbelief. I'd hope my next reaction is to wonder if God is making something happen. More likely, though, is that God isn't going to go to such drastic, nature-bending measures to get my attention. It certainly wasn't commonplace, even in the Bible, and I don't hear about it often in the modern world (... or ever?). Much more likely, is that I need to be aware of uncommon occurrences around me, and how God might be speaking to me through them, instead of expecting, or even sometimes wishing, for the super crazy, never-happened-since-Bible-times, rare occurrences. After the events in Acts 2, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit that I have personally had, this becomes even more important. God will speak to me directly if I'll slow down and pay Him the attention He deserves.
P) Father, thank You for caring about my life and what I do. You are the Almighty God and I am only one among billions even just today, let alone through time. Yet, for reasons still beyond my full understanding, You care for me and concern Yourself with me. Thank You for choosing to be involved in my life to such a degree that You would even speak to me. I don't know what kind of plans You have for my life in its entirety here on earth, but I want to hear from You more. I don't want to wait for the obvious signs anymore, God. Holy Spirit, open my eyes as I look for the subtleties the Father uses to speak to me. Open my ears as I intently listen, giving time devoted to nothing else, but hearing Your voice, LORD. Let me know Your will and direction for my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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