Balaam

Father, Father, hear my prayer:
Do you hear what the people are saying?
Do you see what they are doing? Their actions
Cry in the streets: "If there is a god, he does not care
For you or for me, so do what you please;
Live in the day, tomorrow we go to the grave."
These are not unbelievers I speak of,
But a people that know your name.
Father, Father, in Your name, they act out horrors;
In your name they stole, they killed, they deceived,
They blasphemed you, turned a people against you,
Their Lie sent to the grave those you sent us to save.
They turn from you and still expect grace.
In the grave they will clamor at Your Gate, Father, Father:
"Lord, Lord, did we not call on your name?
Did you not see the glories we did in your name?
Why have you left us here in the pit?
Where is the reward you promised?"
They break the covenant they made in their youth,
And still expect to stand at your side.
Father, Father, what can I do?
I rebuked them, but they would not hear me,
I showed them the way, but they would not see.
Father, Father, their anger burns against me,
They cannot see how your anger burns against them,
They do not hear the hiss of your raised sword,
The sword raised against them and those they hardened.
Yet, for our sake, do not bring your wrath,
For my sake, do not release the Angel of Death,
I pray these things, Father, Father,
For the sake of my people you breath on our nation,
For the innocent you withhold your wrath.
They strike at us for protecting them,
For soothing you, they shall send us to you.
Father, Father, what of our country then?
Who will protect Balaam when I am gone?
The avenging angel even now is in the street,
Waiting for him, and there will be no escape.
Father, Father, I pray to you:
Open his eyes so Balaam will see,
If he sees the angel of death, he may then repent
And save himself from Holy Wrath.
For he did not listen to his donkey; he will not listen to me.

---Andrea J. Graham

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