For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Get ready for one of the most surprising stories in the whole Bible — the day a donkey talked!
Today's Story
There was a king who was scared of God's people. So he sent for a man named Balaam and said, “Come and say bad words against them, so something bad will happen to them.”
But God told Balaam, “Do not say bad words against my people. They are blessed.” Still, Balaam wanted the king's money, so he climbed on his donkey and went anyway.
God sent an angel to stand in the road and stop him. Balaam couldn't see the angel — but his donkey could! So the donkey turned off the road to get away.
Balaam was cross and made the donkey go on. The angel stood in the path again, and again the donkey stopped. One more time the angel stood in a narrow place, and the donkey just lay right down. Balaam couldn't understand why his donkey kept stopping!
Then God did something amazing. He opened the donkey's mouth, and the donkey talked. “What have I done to you?” she asked. “Have I ever acted like this before?”
Right then God let Balaam see the angel standing there. Balaam bowed his face to the ground. His own donkey had seen what he could not see! “Only say the words I give you,” God told him. And this time, Balaam listened.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Has anyone ever tried to tell you something important, but you weren't really listening? What happened?
- The donkey could see the angel when Balaam couldn't. What are some ways God might be trying to get your attention?
- God can use surprising things to speak to us. What is one way you can be a better listener this week?