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"...you really wanna know what freaks me out? Not only the "serpant" speaking to Eve, but the donkey speaking to Balaam."

Cool! Never looked at it that way. I guess if the Lord could make the donkey talk, He could make Balaam want to listen. Then before Balaam could think about it, the angel appears to him too. If I saw that, then nothing would seem strange.

Sort of like the "baseball men" in Field of Dreams. Once Timothy Busfield's character finally saw them, his first reaction was "Don't sell this farm, Ray!".

"Cool! Never looked at it that way. I guess if the Lord could make the donkey talk, He could make Balaam want to listen. Then before Balaam could think about it, the angel appears to him too. If I saw that, then nothing would seem strange. "

Know what else is interesting? The reaction by the angel when the donkey was abused. God is not an advocate of animal cruelty. I'm not saying that God elevates animals over people - not at all. Just that He has disdain for mistreatment of animals since they are also part of His creation.

Here's the verses I'm referring to: (Numbers 22)

[21] And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

[22] And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

[23] And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

[24] But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

[25] And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

[26] And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

[27] And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

[28] And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

[29] And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

Blind Balaam assumed the donkey was just being disobedient.

[30] And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

[31] Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

[32] And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

[33] And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

The angel would have saved the life of the donkey but NOT the man for mistreatment. Interesting, huh?

[34] And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Again, I'm not the kind who elevates animals over man but God does care about animals and expects good treatment of them as well.