R.C. Sproul

Sometimes they carried sacks of olives for their master.

Sometimes they worked for people in the community, and some of them even carried grown adults on their backs.

Davy didn't have to carry anyone or anything.

All he did every day was stand and wait, eat and sleep.

It was boring, and Davy was often unhappy because it seemed no one wanted him to do anything.

The other donkeys who were kept in Davy's pen told stories about the famous donkeys of history.

One had belonged to a man named Balaam.

A wicked king asked Balaam to give a prophecy against God's people.

As Balaam was riding the donkey to the place where the people of God were camped, an angel blocked the path.

The donkey stopped, but Balaam couldn't see the angel, so he got very angry and hit the donkey.

Then the Lord God gave the donkey the power to speak.

The donkey asked, what have I done to you that you've hit me?

Balaam said, You are not treating me right.

Then God let Balaam see the angel.

The angel said, What you are planning to do is wrong.

When Balaam heard that, he decided not to prophesy against the people of God.

The donkeys also told a story about old Barnabas, one of the older donkeys who lived with them.

Years before, Barnabas had lived in the town of Nazareth.

His owner was Joseph, a carpenter.

Joseph and his wife Mary, who was about to have a baby, had to go to his hometown of Bethlehem.