Hello! I’m Druscilla, and I’m a Donkey. You may not think I am as good-looking as my cousin the horse, but, let me tell you something - I can talk! Do you think this is strange? I’m not surprised really, as we Donkeys don’t often talk. But let me tell you my story.
I live near the River Euphrates, and one day I overheard my owner, Balaam, say that we were going to visit King Balak who lived in the country of Moab. I had never been there before, so I felt very excited.
The next day Balaam called to me, and when I trotted over to him he saddled me, climbed on my back, and we set off on our journey.
It was a lovely sunny day, and I enjoyed myself looking at the beautiful countryside. After a while we stopped by a stream for lunch.
I could have stayed there all day - plenty to eat, a clear stream to drink from, and the warm sun on my back, but Balaam soon said ‘I’ll clear away the picnic things, and then we must be on our way.’
He seemed eager to go, so we got up and made our way back to the road. For a while everything was fine, then, suddenly, I had the fright of my life, and I ran as fast as I could into a nearby field.
I expect you would like to know why? Then I’ll tell you.

And this Angel had a sword in his hand! Now, wouldn’t you have run if you had seen him?
But Balaam hadn’t seen the Angel, and he was so angry at what I had done that he beat me, and made me take him back to the road. I realised he hadn’t seen what I had seen, so I suppose I couldn’t blame him for being angry with me.
When I got back to the road again I saw the Angel had gone, so I walked along hoping I wouldn’t have any more frights like that, BUT as we came to a narrow gap between two vineyard walls -

‘Oh dear!’ I thought. ‘Now what am I going to do?’
I wasn’t quite as frightened this time, but even so I tried to squeeze past him by getting as close to the wall as I could. Unfortunately, I got too close, and I hurt Balaam’s foot by crushing it against the wall. This made him angry again. He wondered what was the matter with me to behave in this way, so he gave me another beating.
I wasn’t at all happy by this time, so I spoke to my Father in Heaven about it.
‘What can I do, Father?’ I asked. ‘Balaam can’t see the Angel, and is wondering why I am acting in this way. Can you help me, please?’
Well, as you know, our Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, so He spoke to me and said ‘Don’t worry, Druscilla, I’ll help you.’
I felt happier then, and I walked slowly along. I could see the Angel at the end of the road, and I was hoping he would move. He didn’t, and I could see that it was impossible to pass him, so I did the only thing I could think of - I lay down in the road!
This didn’t please Balaam one little bit, and you can guess what happened next! Yes, he beat me again.
Then my Heavenly Father said to me ‘All right, Druscilla, tell Balaam how you feel, and what you have seen.’
So I did!
I turned to Balaam and I said ‘What have I done to deserve three beatings?’
But before I could say anything further, he shouted at me - ‘You’ve made me look a fool. I’m so angry I could kill you.’
Oh my, he WAS in a temper!
‘Have I ever done anything like this before?’ I asked him.
‘Well ........ No .......’ he admitted.
Then I was just going to tell him about the Angel, when God opened his eyes, and Balaam saw the Angel himself. What a fright he got!
He had never heard me talk before, and now, standing in front of him, with a sword in his hand, was an Angel - and he had never seen one of those before either! It was too much for him. He fell on the ground face down in front of the Angel. He was scared!
Then the Angel spoke to him and asked, ‘Why did you beat Druscilla? I have come to stop you, because you are heading for trouble where you are going, and Druscilla saw me and tried to warn you.’ Then he patted my head.
Balaam was sorry then. ‘I have been very wrong’ he said. ‘I didn’t know Druscilla was trying to help me. I’ll go back home if you don’t want me to go to Moab.’
‘No. You go to Moab’ the Angel answered him. ‘But God will tell you what to say to King Balak. You are to say nothing else. None of your own words or ideas - just what God tells you. Do you understand?’
Balaam understood, and agreed. So the Angel smiled at me, and then went back home.
Balaam climbed on my back and patted my head.
‘Sorry, Druscilla’ he said.
‘That’s all right, I’m glad we are friends again’ I told him, and we went on our way.
You will be glad to know that Balaam did exactly as the Angel had told him, and he only spoke God’s words to the king.
As for me, I am happy too, as Balaam is kind and gentle to me, and has never beaten me again.
So it is a happy story, after all - isn’t it?
Elizabeth Aynsley ©
Numbers 22 vs. 21 - 35