adapted from Numbers 22-31 by Ann Staatz

Voices drifted from my master’s tent. I could tell Balaam was excited. Messengers from the king had come to visit him.

"Something terrible is happening to our country," a messenger said. "A horde of Israelites is traveling toward us. King Balak wants you to curse them. He knows anyone you curse is in trouble."

"Of course, we’ll reward you," another messenger added, pointing to a string of donkeys. Their poor backs were swayed with packs full of gold and silver.

"Please stay overnight," my master invited. "I can’t go until I’ve checked with God."

When Balaam brought my grain the next morning, he was muttering under his breath. "The Lord says I can’t curse those Israelites because they’re His special people. What am I going to do?"

I wanted to tell him that if God said no, he should just forget about it.

My master was unusually quiet the next week. He didn’t pat my head or scratch my ears.

One day, more visitors arrived. "King Balak said he’ll do anything for you, Balaam," a man said, "if you’ll curse those Israelites."

"It sounds tempting," my master replied. "But even if King Balak gave me all his gold and silver, I couldn’t disobey God. I’ll ask the Lord what to do."

My master obviously wanted to go with them, even though God had said no the first time. I knew Balaam was headed for trouble.

My master whistled the next morning as he fed me. "Get ready for a long trip, ol’ girl," he said. "We get to see the king. There’s one catch: I can only say what God tells me to say."

We hadn’t gone far when I saw a man standing in the road, holding a sword pointed at my master. Now I’m just a dumb animal, but I could tell he was no ordinary man. He was the Angel of the Lord.

I trotted into a field. "What are you doing, you crazy donkey?" Balaam said angrily, striking me.

A little later the road passed between two walled vineyards. The Angel appeared again. No way was I going near him. I sidled up to the wall, accidentally smashing Balaam’s foot against the stones.

"What are you doing!" he yelled, whacking me with his stick. "Ouch!"

A little farther along, the road narrowed. Again the Angel of the Lord was standing in the road. I couldn’t turn around and run away, so I just closed my eyes and lay down.

Balaam began beating me. Thwump! My skin stung. I tried to tell him why I lay down. Suddenly I heard my voice. I was talking! "What did I do that made me deserve three beatings?" I asked.

"You’ve made a fool out of me," my master said. "If I had a sword, I’d have killed you."

"You’ve ridden me all your life," I said. "I’ve never done anything like this before, have I?"

"No," my master said slowly, scratching his head. Then he looked up. He must have seen the Angel of the Lord because he flopped down, bowing. I liked what the Angel said: "Balaam, why did you hit your donkey? Your donkey saw Me and turned away three times. If she hadn’t, I would have killed you and let her live. I’m here, Balaam, because you’re going against Me."

This was God speaking. Balaam’s head hung.

"I didn’t know you were standing in the road," he said. "I’ve sinned. I’ll go home if I’m displeasing You."

The Angel of the Lord told my master he could continue his trip, "but you can only say what I tell you to say."

Later that day, the king led us to a mountaintop where we could see the Israelites’ huge camp. No wonder King Balak was afraid, especially after hearing about how God fought their battles as they traveled to the Promised Land.

King Balak waited for Balaam to curse the Israelites, but instead, Balaam blessed them.

"Go home!" King Balak said angrily.

We did. But my master still wanted that silver and gold. He sent a message to King Balak, telling him how to break the Israelites’ strength.

My master knew God wanted his people to marry men and women who loved Him. Balaam suggested that the women in King Balak’s country get the Israelite men to marry them. Then the women could turn the Israelites from their God.

King Balak must have liked the plan, because a string of donkeys carrying heavy packs arrived at my master’s tent.

The riches didn’t do Balaam much good. When the Israelites fought five local tribes, my master was killed. The Israelites took home all the tribes’ animals, including me. Now I have a new home with a family that loves the one true God.

	Q: What do you get when an antelope and a caribou collide? A: A cantaloupe. Jacy and Joe C., 8 and 6, North Carolina Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe