Balaam's donkey

Balaam, a prophet known for his ability to pronounce blessings and curses, was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel as they advanced toward the Promised Land. Balak hoped that Balaam’s prophetic power could weaken Israel and prevent their progress. To secure Balaam’s cooperation, he sent messengers with rich gifts and promises of honor.

Initially, God told Balaam not to go with Balak’s messengers and not to curse the people of Israel, for they were a people blessed by God. However, when Balaam insisted on going, God permitted him to do so on the condition that he would only speak the words God placed in his mouth.

During the journey to Moab, Balaam rode a donkey that served as his means of transport. Along the way, the Angel of the Lord stood in Balaam’s path with a drawn sword, but Balaam could not see Him. The donkey, however, did see the angel and turned aside from the road to avoid Him. Blinded by his desire to please Balak and receive rewards, Balaam struck the donkey to force her forward.

This episode occurred three times, and on each occasion the donkey turned aside because of the Angel of the Lord. Finally, God opened Balaam’s eyes so that he could see the angel and understand why the donkey had turned aside. At that moment, the Angel of the Lord confronted Balaam for beating the donkey unjustly, explaining that the donkey had turned aside to protect Balaam’s life. This caused Balaam to acknowledge his error and the wisdom of the donkey, who had acted obediently despite being only an animal.

After this encounter, Balaam finally arrived in Moab and met with Balak. Instead of cursing Israel, God placed words of blessing in Balaam’s mouth. Despite Balak’s attempts to persuade him, Balaam proclaimed a series of prophecies that blessed Israel and declared God’s protection and promise over His chosen people.

The story of Balaam’s donkey teaches profound lessons about obedience, spiritual perception, and the sovereignty of God. It shows that God can use any means—even a humble animal like a donkey—to communicate His message and accomplish His divine purposes. It also underscores the importance of humility and a willingness to listen to God’s voice, even when His ways and instructions may seem incomprehensible from our limited perspective.

In summary, the story of Balaam’s donkey is a powerful testimony of divine intervention and God’s wisdom in seemingly ordinary situations. It invites believers to trust in God’s guidance and sovereignty in all circumstances, recognizing that His will is fulfilled in ways that often surpass human understanding.

Finally, God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the Angel of the Lord, who asked him why he had struck his donkey. At that moment, Balaam acknowledged his error and the wisdom of the donkey, who had acted obediently to avoid danger.

Thus, the donkey does not speak as a human would, but her unusual behavior and interaction with Balaam were interpreted by him as a form of communication in a broader sense—revealing the presence of the Angel of the Lord in a way Balaam could not initially understand.

The story of Balaam’s donkey is a moving reminder that God can use even the most humble and ordinary means to fulfill His purposes. It teaches us the importance of obedience, humility, and the readiness to recognize God’s voice in our lives, even when His ways are not clear to us. It is a call to trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty in all circumstances, knowing that He can guide our steps in ways that exceed our expectations and human understanding.