BALAAM'S DONKEY

Numbers 22:21-41 / Keywords 22:32

The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.

 

22:21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said.

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.

Footnotes

a. Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

1. Blinded by the gold Balak had offered him, Balaam went with the Moabites. Although God had given him permission to go, He knew that Balaam’s motive was wrong. On the way, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel with the drawn sword, but Balaam did not. At the appearances of the angel, the donkey changed the course three times. It knew that Balaam’s path led to destruction, and it turned aside. But blind Balaam could not see the danger and continued down the wrong path. Instead of beating the donkey, he should have beaten his heart in repentance. God opened Balaam’s spiritual eyes to see the angel. Then he realized his sin and offered to go back. God knew Balaam’s desire for the gold still lingered in his heart and let him go with a strong warning.

 

2. Our greed paralyzes our spiritual sense and leads us to the path of destruction. Nevertheless, God knows our heart, just like he knew Balaam’s heart. He allows us to go our own sinful way and follow our stubborn will. Yet, he will frustrate our plan and correct us in his time and show his will for our lives. He uses different circumstances as correcting moments. He nudges us to change our path. Sometimes he blocks our path completely so that we cannot but lie down before him, repent and see his will and guidance humbly.

 

Prayer Lord, open my spiritual eyes to see your will and nudge me to come back to your path.

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