God's Glory Church

“And the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth.” — Numbers 22:28

Jack knew how to direct the trains to the right track. In his nine years on the job, he never missed a train pulling into the station at Eitenhas in the Republic of South Africa.

By the way, Jack is not a person, but a baboon. He was looked after by the railway signalman James Wide, and Jack in turn helped James. Wide lost both his legs by falling between railroad cars that were moving at the time. He taught Jack to help him with the household chores; soon he was already helping him at work, having learned to respond to the appropriate signals during the movement of trains.

The Bible tells about another animal that helped a person in an unexpected way. This is Balaam’s donkey. Balaam was a pagan prophet who served a king who sought to harm Israel. When the prophet was riding a donkey to the king, “the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth”, and she spoke to Balaam (Numbers 22:28). The speech of the donkey was one of the ways in which God opened “Balaam’s eyes” (v. 31), protected him from danger and forbade him to do evil to God’s people.

A railway baboon? A talking donkey? Why not? If God can use these amazing animals for good, then He can use you and me. By turning to God and seeking His strength, we can achieve much more than we imagined.

Who did God use in an unexpected way? How to make yourself available to God?

God, I want to serve You! Use my hands, feet and mouth as you need! Help me to live for You.

Author: James Banks