Numbers and Talking Donkeys, huh?

Sounds like shrek, right? Couldn't possibly be a talking donkey in the Bible? I am still reading the Chronological Daily Bible with my ladies group from SC and have come to what is one of my all time favorite stories...Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22. You have to read it! Balaam's donkey saves him from the angel of the Lord's sword three times as he had angered God by going with the king's men for his own benefit --- and three times he stopped to beat the donkey. Finally, God allows the donkey to speak to Balaam and He allows Balaam to also see the angel of the Lord. He repents and promises to do what the Lord says and speak only what the Lord says to speak and he does proclaim oracles for Israel. However, he cannot change his ways and later, things don't go so well for Balaam - as even after this incident with the Angel of the Lord and his talking donkey, he still displeases God and tries to destroy the Israelites for his own gain...that's for another day though!!! Still, I love that God used a donkey to speak to Balaam. I love it.