Back that ASS up

I've been thinking about asses a lot today.  Asses can speak to us if we let them.  As a matter of fact... God uses asses to open our blind eyes.  I know when when I see an ass that speaks to me, it gets my attention.  

Take a look in the book of Numbers.  It's in the bible.  Chapter 22.  Balaam was headed down a path he shouldn't have been on.  He was riding on a donkey.  A donkey he knew well and ridden his whole life.  This donkey hadn't let him down before.  Until the donkey met God via an angel.  Donkey got scared and changed course.  So Balaam beat his ass to get him back on the road.  Then Donkey saw the angel again and got scared and squished Balaams foot against a wall.  Balaam got an ass in his foot. So Balaam kicked his ass again.  The next time, Donkey saw angel, curled up in a little donkey ball and hid behind Balaam.  Balaam, about to lay the smack down, was interupted by the donkey.  The donkey asked balaam what he was doing.  He asked Balaam if he ever let him down before.  He asked Balaam if it ever occured to him why his loyal ass was acting so strange.  

Balaam, surprised by his talking ass, looked up and saw the angel for the first time. 

It's important to remember that Balaam knew God.  He's talked with God.  But for some reason he couldn't see the angel.  He didn't know as much about God as he thought.  

So the next time you think you've got everything figured out, don't ignore the talking ass. 

But it's also helpful to remember that Samson killed thousands of people with the jawbone of an ass.  So don't let that jawbone of an ass beat you up either.