INTRODUCTION

Balaam’s Donkey Talks

Bible Point:

Pay attention to God.

Key Verse:

“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” (Psalm 66:5).

Big Picture:

Find a unique way to pay attention to God’s amazing power.

Balaam’s Donkey Talks

Numbers 22:1-38

Sometimes church can feel like something mostly for adults. You may have heard Bible stories so many times that they do not seem surprising anymore. A huge flood, the creation of the world, miracles, even a talking donkey might not sound as amazing as they once did. But God is not boring or outdated. This week, look at God with fresh eyes. Notice how creative, powerful, and surprising God really is. God is alive and active. Ask God to help you see something new and amazing.

PLANTING THE SEED

Have you ever heard a donkey talk? I didn’t think so. But imagine Balaam’s surprise when his donkey did just that. Balaam was a prophet of sorts who got caught in the middle of a problem with Balak, King of Moab, and Israel. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites so Moab would be safe from them. But God kept Balaam from doing that. Later, after Balaam kept asking, God permitted him to go—but only to say what God commanded. So Balaam saddled his donkey (remember the donkey?) and off he went.

Then God sent an angel to appear in front of Balaam’s donkey. Three times the donkey saw the angel (with a drawn sword!) and tried to avoid him—and three times Balaam beat the donkey. Finally, the donkey had had enough and asked Balaam why he was beating her. Balaam was angry, but after he had a little owner-to donkey talk with her, Balaam realized the Lord had used the donkey to save his life.

So Balaam went to Balak and said what God wanted him to say. God used a most unusual way to get Balaam’s attention. What does God use to get your attention?

FAMILY FUN

Bend a metal hanger into a round or square shape. Ask your family to follow you outside to an area where there’s a lawn or a field. If it’s too cold outside, do this on the floor in your house. Toss the bent hanger a distance away, and then, as a family, go find it. Don’t move it. Instead, get on your hands and knees and look closely at the area within the bent wire. Discuss these questions:

• What do you notice that you’ve never paid attention to before?

• What do you think is going on 12 inches beneath the wire or two miles directly above it?

• What does it mean to truly pay attention to God?

• In what ways can we pay attention to God more closely?

READY, SET, GROW!

• In the morning, pay attention to all of the things you can think of that God did just to make the day start. Recognize God for everything from bringing the sun up to helping you sleep at night. Keep focusing on God until you run out of things to thank God for.

• The next time something amazing happens, pay attention to that amazing thing. Write it down in a list. At the end of the week, thank God for all God did.

• Create a commitment wristband or another thing to wear on your hand or arm so you remember to think about God when you see that item. Commit to giving your attention and focus to God this week. Ask God to help you make each day an ongoing conversation with God, and then talk to God whenever God comes to mind.