god’s objectionable messengers
“Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.” —1 Samuel 9:3
God used lost asses to lead Saul to leadership; thereby, Saul was led to Samuel, who anointed Saul as king (1 Sm 9:3, 14; 10:1). Thus, through Saul, God liberated Israel from its enemies.
Balaam’s ass actually talked to him and warned him of danger, which resulted in a rich blessing upon Israel (Nm 22:28ff). God opened the mouth of Balaam’s ass in order to open Balaam’s ears to His message.
St. Matthew was a difficult man, a tax collector who exploited and harassed his own people (Mt 9:9). Jesus stretched His disciples by inviting a tax collector to join them in daily ministry.
The point is that God sends objectionable people, and even animals, to accomplish His will. That person who frustrates you constantly might have been placed in your life by the Lord to help open your eyes and ears to a message He has been trying to communicate to you.
Wouldn’t it be best to instead spend regular time listening to God, so He doesn’t have to send a difficult messenger to get your attention? “Try to discern the will of the Lord” (Eph 5:17), before God has to send “a wild ass of a man” (Gn 16:12) into your life to deliver His message to you.
Prayer: Father, each morning open my ears that I may hear Your voice (Is 50:4).
Promise: “People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous.” —Mk 2:17
Praise: St. Hilary chose Christianity through a long, thoughtful process of study.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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