“CREATING A LOVE OF CREATION”

NUMBERS 22:20-35

20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

Where are the people from PETA when you need them?  Today you just don’t do what Balaam did to his donkey.  Balaam struck his donkey not once, not twice but three times.

What happened that day brings to mind the frustrating situation that a woman found herself in when she went to a pet store and bought a parrot.  A few days later the woman went back to the pet store to complain.  The woman grumbled, “That parrot you sold me still hasn’t said a single word.” “Well,” the pet store owner said, “why don’t you buy a mirror and put it in the cage?  Sometimes a parrot will see itself in the mirror and think it’s another parrot and start talking to it.”  So, the woman took his advice and bought the parrot a mirror.  A few days later the woman went back to the store and complained that the parrot still hadn’t said a single word. “What about a ladder?” the pet store owner suggested.  “Parrots like to climb up and down ladders and they tend to talk more when they’re happy.”  So, the woman took his advice and bought the parrot a ladder. When that didn’t work the pet store owner suggested that she buy the parrot a swing.  He explained that the parrot might be nervous in it’s new environment and that a swing would help it to relax.  So the woman took his advice and bought the parrot a swing.  A few days later the woman walked into the pet store and announced that the parrot had died.  “I’m very sorry to hear that,” the pet store owner said. “I’m curious though.  Before it died did the parrot say anything at all?”  “Yes,” the woman grumbled. “It asked me, ‘Don’t they sell any bird food down at that pet store?’”

The story of Balaam and his talking donkey is, first and foremost, a story about Balaam and his relationship with God.  It’s a story about listening to God and doing what God wants you to do.  Beyond that though it’s also a story about Balaam and his relationship with his donkey. The two main characters in the story include a prophet in ancient Israel by the name of Balaam and a Moabite king by the name of Balak.  Before the Moabite king sends his army into battle against the Israelites he sends messengers to Balaam with instructions to bring Balaam to him.  The Moabite king wants Balaam to curse the Israelites so that his army will defeat them in battle.  The first time the messengers arrive Balaam refuses to go with them.  The second time the messengers arrive Balaam refuses to go with them.  The third time the messengers arrive Balaam agrees to go with them but Balaam makes it clear that he’s only going to say what God tells us to say.  God, however, isn’t pleased with Balaam’s decision to go with the messengers.  That’s because God is able to see into Balaam’s heart and  God knows that there’s a good chance that Balaam is going to give in and give Balak what he wants.  So, God sends an angel with a sword to stand in the middle of road.  Balaam doesn’t see the angel standing there but the donkey does.

When the donkey turns to the right, Balaam gives it a whack.

When the donkey turns to the left, Balaam gives it another whack.

Then when the donkey lies down in the middle of the road, Balaam gives it another whack.  Balaam is furious and wishes that he could kill the donkey.

That’s when the donkey opens its mouth and miracle of miracles the donkey begins to speak. The donkey basically says, What are you doing Balaam? Is this the way you’re going to treat me?  Haven’t I served you faithfully all these years?”  Now this is where the story gets really interesting.  The donkey is talking to him and Balaam doesn’t seem to be fazed by that at all. Instead Balaam is a little embarrassed and admits that the donkey HAS served him faithfully over the years.

The question that the donkey asked Balaam that day is also a question for us today.  It’s a question that we need to answer when it comes to all of God’s creation. God has blessed us with a creation that is teeming with bounty and beauty.  God has blessed us with a creation that has served us faithfully ever since human beings first set foot upon the earth and the question is how are we treating it?

Now I’m not going to get into the debate over climate change and whether fossil fuels are to blame.   That’s a debate for the scientists and the politicians.  As a people of faith however, what we can do is look at the question from a theological perspective.

So, let me ask you this question.  How would you feel if someone had a pizza here in the sanctuary and then left the greasy boxes on the Communion Table and the sticky soda cans on the altar?  I think it’s safe to say that the hew and cry would be long and loud.  After all this is God’s house and you need to treat God’s house with reverence and respect but isn’t that also true when it comes to God’s creation?  Isn’t it also true when it comes to the rivers and the mountains, the forests and the oceans that God created?

Long ago the psalmist looked up to the heavens and uttered those well know words of praise.  “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell therein…” (24:1)  Forget the fact that carbon dioxide can cause lung cancer and mercury can kill you.  Is it respectful and reverent for us to be dumping toxic chemicals into the air that God created?  Is it respectful and reverent for us to be flushing toxic chemicals into the oceans that God created? 

On that day long ago Balaam’s donkey could have been speaking for all of creation.

“What are you doing?  Is this the way you’re going to treat me?  Have I not served you faithfully all these years?”

What we need is a new way of looking at creation and that’s where the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tse may be able to help us.  Many centuries ago Lao Tse told a story called the Parable of the Useless Tree.  There are a few different versions of the parable but the one that really speaks to us today goes like this:

One day a grandfather and his grandson came upon a very old tree standing all alone on a hill.  The trees all around it had been cut down over the years.  The grandfather turned to his grandson and said, “Do you know why this tree is still here when all the other trees have been cut down?”

The grandson said, “No, grandfather.  Why is this tree still here?”

“Because,” the grandfather said, “It is useless.”

The grandfather went on to explain. “It’s wood is full of knots and it’s branches are all twisted and crocked.  So, it’s wood cannot be used to building anything.”

The grandson nodded his head in agreement.

“And,” the grandfather said, “you cannot use the tree for fuel because the smoke from the wood is very dangerous to the eyes.”

Once again the grandson nodded his head.

“And,” the grandfather said, “the tree has no fruit and it’s leaves are very bitter.  So, the animals do not eat them.”

Once again the grandson nodded his head.

“This tree is absolutely useless,” the grandfather sighed. “That is why it is still here and we can sit and rest in its shade.”

God’s creation isn’t there for us to simply use as we see fit.   It’s beauty is there to nurture our souls and it’s bounty is there to nourish our bodies.  So, it needs to be treated with reverence and respect for it truly is a blessing that God has entrusted to us.   Our stewardship of the donkeys and the whales, the Rocky Mountains and the Everglades, the glaciers and the Amazon won’t be successful until we learn to embrace God’s creation with a respectful and reverent love. 

What we’re talking about here is the same kind of love that can be seen in a story that appeared many years ago in Guideposts magazine.   The story was called, “The Pleasure of Her Company” and it’s the story about a family’s relationship with their dog Bridgette.  It’s a happy story until it becomes obvious that Bridgette is dying.

“For two nights she lay on the kitchen floor whining in pain – our dog who never complained.  I dialed the veterinary hospital with leaden fingers and heard myself scheduling a euthanasia appointment.  The impossible was happening….Too soon it was time to leave for our appointment.  (My husband) gently lifted her into the car.  She thumped her tail feebly, trusting us to do right by her.  We stood in the snow hugging each other fiercely – partly for comfort, but mostly for our brave wonderful dog and what had been.  Now it was my turn to be a faithful friend.  I walked through the valley (of the shadow of death) with Bridgette to the end, cradling her in my arms, soothing her and murmuring assurances of love as she slipped peacefully from this life.  The rest of the day passed in a kind of numbed haze.  Bridgette was gone; yet I tried to hold her to me.  I kept sniffing my sweater, where her scent still clung…(Later that evening) on impulse I reached for my Bible and printed her name in the family memorial page.  She belonged there.”

That’s the kind of love that we need if we want God’s creation to continue to bless us.  What we need to create is a love of creation.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

June 2, 2013