THE CHILDREN’S STORY CORNER:

DOUBLE-MINDED

Do you know the story of the animal that talked in the Bible? It is also a story about a double-minded man named Balaam.

Once upon a time, Balak, King of Moab, saw the Israelites would soon outnumber his own people, so he sent messengers to Balaam, a prophet of God, asking him to put a curse on the people of Israel. Now Balaam loved money and the messengers of Balak came and promised him riches if he would curse Israel. Balaam knew that God did not want His nation Israel cursed, but he still told the messengers, “stay here tonight and I will tell you what the Lord says.”

The Lord came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you? Balaam answered God that Balak needed him to curse ‘a people come out of Egypt’ so he could drive them out. Balaam did not say they were God’s people, but only “a people come out of Egypt.” God was not fooled, however, and told Balaam, “You shall not go with them and you shall not curse the people for they are blessed.” Balaam told the messengers, “You better go home because the Lord won’t let me go with you.” When Balak was told this, he sent even more princes with greater gifts begging Balaam to come but Balaam answered, “If Balak would give me a house full of silver and gold, I cannot go against the word of the LORD,” but he was secretly hoping God would change His mind, so he asked God again if he could go and God said, “If the men come and call you in the morning, get up and go with them, but only say what I tell you.” But Balaam didn’t wait for them to call him, he rose early in the morning and went with the messengers and God was very angry. As Balaam went on, his donkey could see an angel standing on the road with a sword raised. Seeing the angel, the donkey turned into the field, so Balaam beat it.

As they went on, they came to a wall on either side of the road. The angel stood in the road, and the donkey turned aside, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall, and he beat it again. Then they came to a place where the ass could not go either way and it fell down under Balaam and so he beat the poor animal again and then the donkey said, “Why have you hit me three times?” Instead of being surprised to hear an animal talk, Balaam answered, “Because you mocked me.” Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing with a drawn sword and knew he had sinned and begged forgiveness. Make sure that you are not double-minded and disobey God. Your Aunt Vivien