Are You Listening?

When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

God created animals to communicate with each other in amazing ways. Whales intonate information to each other regarding their whereabouts. Birds flutter their wings in elaborate mating rituals to say, “I’m available! Let’s go on a date!” However, none of us would ever expect our beloved dog or cat to open its mouth and talk.

The prophet Balaam didn’t expect that either. But on the road to Moab, he got the surprise of his life. Balaam had been tasked with a difficult assignment, to oppose Israel’s God and curse the nation on behalf of its enemies. However, God had other plans in mind. Who better to help deliver God’s message than Balaam’s donkey!

As she loped along the road toward Moab, Balaam’s donkey behaved strangely three times. When she saw an angel of the Lord standing in the road, invisible to Balaam, she ran off into a field until Balaam beat her back to the road. Next, to get by the angel, the donkey slid against a stone wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Finally, when other attempts had failed to dissuade Balaam from his intentions, the donkey opened her mouth and spoke! At last, Balaam would pay attention. What an odd and unexpected wake-up call!

The death of a loved one wakes us up from our illusions too. We travel along through life with our own intentions, when loss stops us in our tracks. Like Balaam, we stand in the middle of the road, confused and angry. What in the world is happening? Death is like Balaam’s donkey, calling out for us to pay attention. In our suffering and tragedy, God has important things to say, if we will only stop and listen.

Rather than plug your ears and cover your eyes, invite your loss to reveal God’s truth to you. Do you need a wake-up call to reorder your priorities? Have relationships fallen by the wayside that need strengthening now? What do you see differently now since your loss? God can speak in unexpected ways. Ask him to open your eyes, ears, and heart to his word for you today.

I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

A Prayer: God, I confess that I often floated along in life before my loss, but death has shaken me awake. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to listen, learn, and grow. Open my eyes to see your work around me. Train my ears to hear your voice. Teach my heart to respond when you instruct and guide me. I am yours, God. Shape me more today into your likeness. Amen.

An Activity for Today: Make a playlist that reminds you of your person. Include songs that your person liked and that you enjoyed together and those that make you think about him or her. Think about how the genre and lyrics can speak for the emotions you hold inside. Listen to your playlist when you need to feel close to your person. Music can offer needed catharsis, so it’s okay if the songs bring tears. If you feel comfortable, share your playlist with a friend as a way of communicating what’s in your head and heart. Sometimes music says how we feel better than our own words ever could.

A Song to Encourage Your Heart: “I Am Thine, O Lord” by Grace Brumley