Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

God standing with drawn sword ready to kill him. In terror "he
bowed his head and fell flat on his face." The angel said, "Behold, I
have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse
before Me. The donkey saw me and turned aside from Me these
three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also
have killed you by now, and let her live."
Balaam owed his life to the poor animal he had treated so
cruelly. The man who claimed to be a prophet of the Lord was so
blinded by greed and ambition that he could not discern the angel of
God visible to his beast. "The god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not." 2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV. How
many people rush on in forbidden paths, disobeying God's law, and
cannot tell that God and His angels are against them! Like Balaam
they are angry at those who would prevent their ruin.
"A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender
mercies of the wicked are cruel" (Proverbs 12:10). Few people
realize as they should the sinfulness of abusing animals or leaving
them to suffer from neglect. Animals were created to serve us, but
we have no right to cause them pain by harsh treatment.
Those who will abuse an animal because it is in their power are
both cowards and tyrants. Many people think that their cruelty will
never be known, because the poor unspeaking animal cannot reveal
it. But if the eyes of these people could be opened, they would see
an angel of God standing as a witness to testify against them in the
courts above. A day is coming when judgment will be pronounced
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