When God Speaks Through the Unexpected: The Divine Donkey

When God Speaks Through the Unexpected: The Divine Donkey

Sometimes, the most profound messages from God come from the most unexpected places. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Ralph Douglas West led us through one of the most surprising yet powerful stories in the Bible—the story of Balaam and his talking donkey.

And yes, you read that right. A donkey talks.

But more importantly, God speaks.

The Story: Numbers 22

The Israelites are on the brink of entering the Promised Land. King Balak of Moab, fearful of their numbers and power, hires the prophet-for-hire Balaam to curse them. Balaam takes the job, but God tells him he can only speak what God puts in his mouth.

As Balaam travels to carry out his assignment, his donkey sees an angel of the Lord blocking the road and refuses to move forward. Balaam—blind to what’s really going on—beats the donkey repeatedly.

Then the unexpected happens.

“Why have you beaten me these three times? Haven’t I always been faithful to you?” – Numbers 22:28-30 

In that moment, Balaam’s eyes are opened. He sees the angel, falls to the ground, and realizes he was about to walk straight into destruction—if not for the donkey.

Lessons from The Divine Donkey: 

1. God Uses Unlikely Messengers: Balaam was supposed to be the spiritual expert, but it was the donkey who saw the angel first. Pastor West reminded us that God’s voice can come through unexpected people and situations. Don't discredit where or how God might speak — He uses who He wants, when He wants.

2. Reverence Opens Our Eyes: The donkey bowed before the angel. It recognized the presence of God even when Balaam didn’t. Reverence isn't just tradition — it’s spiritual sensitivity. When God shows up, sometimes the most powerful response is silence, surrender, and awe.

3. Your Response Matters: When Balaam finally sees what’s happening, he confesses: “I have sinned.” Pastor West emphasized that awareness of God’s presence should lead us to action. A soft heart, a humble spirit, and a willingness to turn around — that’s how we truly respond to God's voice.

Action Steps: 

Here are a few ways you can apply the message from “The Divine Donkey” this week:

1. Pay Attention to Divine Interruptions: Is something in your life “turning, rubbing, or stopping”? Don’t rush past it. Ask: What might God be trying to reveal?

2. Stay Open to Unlikely Voices: Sometimes God speaks through people you’d least expect — children, coworkers, even strangers. Stay spiritually curious. Don't dismiss a message just because you don't like the messenger.

3. Practice Quiet Reverence: Find a moment this week to sit still before God — no distractions, no noise. Just be with Him. Let worship rise from a place of awe, not activity.

4. Respond in Humility: If God reveals something in your path that needs to change, don’t ignore it. Like Balaam, admit it. Turn around. God honors humility.

A Prayer to Hear God's Voice

Lord, open my eyes.
Help me not to miss Your voice in the noise of life. Give me the wisdom to recognize when You’re speaking — even if it's through the most unexpected people or situations. Forgive me for the times I’ve ignored Your warnings or resisted Your redirection. Make me more reverent, more sensitive, more obedient. And when I do hear Your voice, give me the courage to respond.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

This blog post is inspired by Pastor Ralph West's sermon, "The Divine Donkey". This sermon emphasizes that God performs miracles in response to our problems and limitations, particularly when we acknowledge our complete dependence on Him and remain open to His provision.

Click here to purchase the MP3 of the sermon, "The Divine Donkey"