Reflections on "OT Sidekicks: Balaam's Donkey" Numbers 22

This fall, when I am preaching sermons not connected to our stewardship series in October, I will be exploring Old Testament stories that have a minor character who is important to the story.  I have tried to pick some fun narratives - Nathan confronting David; Jezebel; and the widow of Zarephath to name a few.  For this sermon, the puppet troupe told the story in a fun way, which helped set the stage for the sermon.  The reference to Burrito late in the sermon connects to Burrito the talking donkey, who is part of the puppet troupe.

the sermon covered so much material and such a rich story, I had trouble narrowing down the focus.  The ending was a bit abrupt!

 “OT Sidekicks:  “Balaam’s donkey”; Numbers 22: 22-38;  September 17, 2023; SAPC, Denton; Dr. Richard B. Culp

Numbers 22: 22-38

God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back on to the road. ²⁴Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. ²⁵When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck it again. ²⁶Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. ²⁷When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. ²⁸Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ ²⁹Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!’ ³⁰But the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you in this way?’ And he said, ‘No.’

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. ³²The angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. ³³The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely I would by now have killed you and let it live.’ ³⁴Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.’ ³⁵The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.’ So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at Ir-moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the farthest point of the boundary. ³⁷Balak said to Balaam, ‘Did I not send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honour you?’ ³⁸Balaam said to Balak, ‘I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say.’

Introduction:   We begin our fall preaching series - it’s a collection of sermons from three categories:  Dr. Patterson will preach a couple more sermons like last Sunday that grow out of her Clergy Renewal time;

we will have a three-week series of sermons on questions about stewardship we’ve wanted to ask but never have;

and then the rest of the sermons will reflect on sidekicks we discover in the Old Testament, except, of course for the Fall Festival of Faith worship service which will be a glorious worship service with music, movement, and much more.

Old Testament Sidekicks - this means we are going to be reading some wonderful narratives from the Old Testament and looking particularly at how the sidekick impacts the story.

Not the main character, but the person, or in the case this morning, the donkey who helps out the main character.  

sort of looking at the story and seeing how Robin helps Batman; or R2D2 helps Luke Skywalker.

As we reflect on these stories, you might consider what sidekicks you have in your life;  

or maybe how you live into the role of sidekick for someone else’s life.

Move 1:  Before getting to the sidekick this morning, let’s take a moment and see how the story we read calls us to look beyond ourselves and our normal patterns of connecting to God.

a.  If we read through the whole story cycle, it runs through Chapter 25, we recognize that the story is about God blessing Israel.

1.  In fact, by the end of the story in Chapter 25, the Israelites will indeed receive a blessing, which means taht the God who rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt is now continuing to bless them in the wilderness.

2. In fact, part of the problem that leads to King Balak wanting to curse the Israelites is how well they are doing in battle with others;

how much they are multiplying and growing as a people, 

which makes them a threat to the Moabite.

2.  But, throughout the story the Israelites are not aware that God is acting on their behalf.

3. The Israelites are not involved - 

Balak is a foreign king (

and Balaam is a non-Israelite.

4.  You might say this is a side story with a sidekick which tells a truth about God’s blessing for the Israelites.

5. But, despite the Israelites being unaware of what God is doing,  God acts to bless Israel.

b.  Reminder to us - God is at work in the world, whether we are paying attention or not.

God is at work whether we choose to align ourselves with God or not.

God is at work whether we interpret our story with God in it or not.

1.  We cannot assume that God is only at work when we make the plans for God to be at work.

2.  or that God is at work only in the places we think God ought to be at work.

c.  we push beyond our walls and go into the world because Christ sends us into the world as the body of Christ.

1.  But we also need to go out into the world because we find God out in the world again and again.

2.  We go into the world because God is at work in the world and calls us to join in the work.

Move 2:  Balaam does not see the angel of the Lord, but his donkey does.

a.  Balaam seems like a person who would see the angel of the Lord.

1.  Balaam is a diviner, a prophet kind of guy, who calls on the name of Yahweh 

2.  Balaam uses God’s personal name at least nine times; 

3.  Balaam is sent by God and seems to be doing God’s bidding.

4.  But, Balaam is also told: “Do only what I tell you to do.”

5. And somewhat Balaam does not hear what God is saying at a critical moment;

Balaam does not see the angel of the Lord when the angel is right there before him on the road.

b.  But his sidekick donkey does. 

1. IN fact, Balaam’s donkey tries very hard to make Balaam see and hear.

2. three times, three times the donkey dramatically intervenes.

 first, he detours into a field, 

then, he squeezes round by a wall (hurting Balaam's' foot) and, 

and finally when there is no alternative route, lying down in the road. (https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/the-bible/a-word-in-time/2016/8-14-may-2016/friday/)

4.   Even when Balaam threatens his donkey, his donkey will not let Balaam do what the Lord does not want him to do.

5. Balaam cannot see or hear God, but his sidekick donkey intervenes and makes Balaam see.

c.  We need people, and situations to open our eyes to see.

1. That is one reason why God calls us to be part of the body of Christ.

to surround us with people with whom we can engage.

2. Over the years, i have become accustomed to members of the congregation telling me their story about a  big change of heart they have had or a big decision they have made being shaped by someone else or a group with which they are in community.

People who can listen and observe and then suggest how they see God might be working in a situation;

Or sometimes asking questions that call us to reexamine how we had been planning to act.

3.  Or, I have heard stories about situations in people's lives that call into question what they are doing.

4. The power of God to be at work through our sidekicks to guide and direct us.

5.  Look back over your own “aha” moments when you figured out in that moment what you need to change or what you needed to do.  I bet there was someone there to help guide you or a situation that pushed you to clarify what God was doing in your life.

Balaam needed his sidekick donkey to open his eyes and ears to see the angel of the Lord in the road and hear God’s command.  

Move 3:  Balaam’s donkey is doing God’s work and Balaam does not notice.

a.  The talking donkey?

1.  Except for the serpent in the Garden of Eden, no other talking animals in the biblical stories.

2.  How can Balaam not understand that something incredible is happening.

3. Balaam does not stop and go, “Wow, the donkey is talking.”

4. No he just gets mad at the donkey.

5. maybe the lesson for us is that if the donkey talks, we better listen (even if it Burrito!).

b. It seems to me that Balaam cannot cannot get over himself.

1.  Humility in our discipleship.

2.  We do not have all the answers.

3.  Better link ourselves to God.

4. Anyone or anything that can help us listen to God or see God is a welcome sidekick,

Conclusion:  God continues to act in the world.

God calls us to act.

Are you looking and listening?

Reflections on "David's Vision" I Samuel 17 Preached by Dr. Lisa Patterson

this sermon was preached by Dr. Lisa Patterson, the Associate Pastor at St. Andrew.  She has just returned from a four-month sabbatical funded by the Clergy Renewal program of the Lilly Endowment.

Sunday, September 10, 2023

1 Samuel 17: 1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

David’s Vision

Sermon

My sabbatical journey has been a long journey. It started18 months ago, when it was approved, and it came to an end on August 31 of this year, when I returned after four months. In Winter 2022, the Session of St. Andrew granted my request for a sabbatical and its theme of gathering around tables for renewal, and the Clergy Renewal Committee and I started writing a grant proposal for international travel to Italy. Thankfully that was granted.

Why did I choose to travel to Italy with the enthusiastic support of my family? There so many reasons to go which so many of you have enumerated to me! My family and I enjoyed every single one of them – food, art, culture, wineries, churches, the colosseum, history, olive oil, the people, beauty of the countryside. As one of our guides told us, the people of Italy claim, “All roads lead to Rome and that was true for me, because I was in Rome four different times during my three weeks in Italy.

But the overarching reason I went to Italy was to see The David. The famous 17-foot sculpture by Michelangelo, which is arguably the most famous sculpture in the world, and which I bet so many of you are picturing in your mind’s eye right now. Why, did I want to see this one statue? Well…Whether you have spent time in the church or out, the story of David, the story of David and Goliath, have captured our imaginations and provided a common language in the broader culture throughout the ages. David’s story was so full of stunning success and brutal failure that it seems to represent the story of the common human journey. It had always been a hope of mine to see this statue one day. And, it is truly breath-taking to see in all its stunning beauty created by one of the most iconic sculptors of all time.

It is thought that Michelangelo carved the statue right at the moment when David is poised to cast the stone at Goliath. He is standing on his right leg with his left leg bent and poised to begin the rotation with the slingshot. The tendons in his leg are so clearly defined, and his gaze is intense, focused, and purposeful that you feel the story come alive. The statue on its own without the story was worth seeing, but the story gave the experience a greater depth for me and probably others as well.

The story Karen and I just read is the one that inspired this great sculpture. The text for today follows the moment when David had been secretly anointed king by the prophet, Samuel, at God’s command. David, who was the youngest and the most surprising choice out of Jesse’s eight sons – God moves in surprising ways once again.

In today’s story, we read that David had been left at home to tend the sheep while the older and more experienced brothers served at the front line in Israel’s army to fight the Philistines. The only reason David, the newly anointed king, was sent to the front line to run an errand for his father. He was sent as the errand boy to deliver food to his brothers, and to replenish the storehouse of supplies for the army. 

David arrived and found the Israelite army in chaos, clearly lacking direction. King Saul, the tallest person in the kingdom, wasn’t known for his leadership skills. The two armies were lined up on opposing sides, ready to fight. But there had been a 40-day delay. 

The Philistine warrior, Goliath, had for 40 days prior to this day, marched ceremoniously onto the battlefield 80 different times - twice a day for 40 days. He did this to issue a challenge to the Israelite army. Fight Goliath and win and the Israelites would triumph over the Philistines, who would become their slaves. Lose, and the Israelites would be slaves to the Philistines. 80 announcements, 40 day’s time, no takers, and we could guess why.

David’s brothers and the army were intimidated and afraid of this giant. They were frozen and could not act.  They realized that in traditional hand-to-hand combat, no one could defeat Goliath, not even King Saul, who had armor just as fine as Goliath’s. Everyone accepted the facts as they could see them – Goliath was unbeatable. I wonder what the giants are in our day that seem just as daunting.

When David arrived and saw what was happening on the front lines, he was surprised that the army of the living God didn’t realize who they served, and he said so. He also started asking questions. His older brother, Eliab, yelled at him for being so presumptuous. David was an errand boy, the younger brother – what could he possibly add to the conversation? The discussion was reported to King Saul, and he sent for David, and David didn’t hold back. I don’t think David ever held back – with God or with his community! David knew who the Israelite army served and the Philistines were defying this God. 

So David volunteered to fight Goliath. To Saul’s credit, he resisted. He said David was just a boy who couldn’t possibly fight a seasoned warrior. But David wasn’t deterred, and he got out his resume. He presented his credentials. David told the king, he had fought bears and lions and defeated them to protect the sheep, rescuing the lambs from their jaws and catching them by the jaw and killing them with only a staff and slingshot. Saul readily accepted his offer to fight Goliath. There wasn’t exactly a line forming.

When we read this story we know so well, we are reminded that David’s brothers, Saul, the Israelite army all focused on Goliath rather than God. They supersized the warrior, to the diminishment of God. David’s reality, fresh from the field, instead, supersized God and not Goliath. Eugene Peterson, pastor and theologian wrote, “David entered the valley with a God-dominated imagination.” 

Instead of seeing Goliath’s size only, David saw God and was attentive to God. David kept his eyes firmly trained on God, and his focus on the one he served. He had learned to trust God and David had developed a God-dominated lens, maybe when he was out in the fields alone with only God and the sheep for company. The only help from bears and lions would have been God. 

Saul wanted to help David, and he did it the only way he knew how by piling his ill-fitting, heavy armor on David. The same armor that didn’t qualify Saul to fight Goliath now was offered to David, who cannot even walk in the heavy equipment. David removes the heavy armor. 

He chooses, instead, to be David in the ways that God called him to be rather a copy of someone else. David was the one who realized the only way to fight Saul’s battle was God’s way. Saul and the rest of the army still hadn’t recognized that God’s ways were not conventional.

And God, through David, defeated Goliath with no armor other than a slingshot and five stones picked up in the valley plus his shepherd staff – plus God. David’s stone connected with the only unprotected area - his forehead. 

To interpret the accounts of that fateful day, only a God-dominated mind would be able to understand the events. A Goliath-dominated mind could not conceive it for it was not conventional wisdom but holy wisdom in action. We love this underdog story, but that isn’t really what it is. David knew he was not fighting for the underdog. He was serving the living God whom the giant had dared to defy by threatening to bring harm to God’s people. David needed to set this right with the means at his disposal, using his skills and gifts. 

 

I told you earlier that the reason I wanted to go to Italy was to see David. I wanted to see the beauty of this statue that Michelangelo had brought forth from one piece of stone, but it was also the subject that has so fascinated me through the years. David was a person whose mind was so dominated by God that all events were interpreted through that lens. 

I wanted to see this sculpture of a young man by a brilliant, conflicted artist in his own right, who was willing to live his life fully and completely before God and in his community with all his excellence and imperfections fully on display. David kept coming back to God in both spectacular and flawed ways, and the biblical writers didn’t try and clean up the accounts. 

I keep wondering what if we tried to do the same? Live a life fully and completely before God and community, with our minds focused on God willing to own that we do well and we also do fail? 

Our guide at the gallery said that Michelangelo struggled to release the figure, the statue, which was within each block of stone, because this was the sculptor’s task. 

How do we allow and assist God in forming and shaping us, sculpting and refining us to become the real and authentic person inside our outer human shell and then to offer ourselves for God’s service for the benefit of the world? 

How do we live out all of our doubts, our excellence, our flaws and mistakes, out in community as a reflection of our God-dominated imagination? The mighty, powerful, forgiving, gracious God of David is at work in all of us. 

I want to invite all of us to be a little more like the towering figure of David, who loved God and kept his God-dominated imagination through all of his missteps, need for repentance, and leading his world to share his God-dominated lens. Amen