Numbers 22: I Have Sinned

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “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.” -Numbers 22:34

Donkeys do talk–at least one did in Numbers 22. Many have heard the story of the donkey God used to speak to Balaam, but few understand why it happened. There was a reason.

Balaam himself mentions the reason in verse 34: “I have sinned.” He had agreed to go to a king who opposed Israel as part of a plan to put a curse on them.

God used a donkey as a wake up call.

What has God used to get your attention? He sometimes resorts to odd methods to communicate something of importance to our lives. Why? Because of his love. He wants us to repent from our wrongs and live fully for him. And he will sometimes go to great lengths to reach us.

One time it was a donkey.

Another time it was his Son.

We need only to look at what God has already communicated through Jesus to see our imperfections in light of his perfection. When we stop and pay attention to his voice, we realize the only appropriate response is to say, like Balaam, “I have sinned.”

Ultimately, God does not need us; we need him. Let us draw near to him, knowing he has promised to draw near to us when we do.

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Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.