Balaam in the Bible
Numbers 21-22
Balaam in the Bible. Numbers 21-22 covers several
topics, the last of which is Balaam and the talking donkey. Does it seem as
though these verses have come out of a science fiction novel? Did they
really happen? Did Balaam's donkey really speak to him?
22 But God's anger was kindled
because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as
his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants
were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in
the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside
out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey,
to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a
narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And
when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall
and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26
Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where
there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When
the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And
Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam,
“What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I
wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the
donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden
all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?”
And he said, “No.”
31
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the
Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed
down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him,
“Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come
out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey
saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not
turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let
her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned,
for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now
therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the
angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the
word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 22:22-35, English Standard Version
Balaam in the Bible
Numbers 21-22
Numbers 21-22 covers several topics, the last of which is Balaam and the talking donkey. Does it seem as though these verses have come out of a science fiction novel? Did the story of Balaam in the Bible really happen? Did Balaam's donkey really speak to him?
We must be careful to not put God in a box, so to speak! Is it too hard for the
Creator of our world to make a donkey speak? Does God speak to us or do
His will through animals in our day? Remember that all of creation is
God's; yes, God speaks to us and does His will through all of creation even in this, the 21st century.
All of nature was affected by the sin and subsequent fall of mankind. Nature groans as it patiently waits for God to make all things right again. Even the little birds cry out to God when they are hungry and He feeds them.
When my cats cry out because they are hungry, I think of them crying before God. So, though it may not be good timing for me, I get up and feed them. If we saw life as it truly exists--angels interceding on our behalf and nature crying out to God, do you think we would live our lives in a different manner? I hope so!
When we read of Balaam and the angel, we find that the donkey saw the angel long before Balaam ever saw him. If his donkey would not have refused to go on, Balaam would have been killed.
As we think of Balaam in the Bible, let us think of the many, many ways in which God intercedes in our lives. We may neglect Him, but He does not neglect us.
Does
a snow storm prevent you from going where you planned to go? Did God
use the snowstorm to prevent you? Nothing that happens in this world is
apart from the will of God. Often God uses the natural instincts of
animals to guide us or to prevent us from going the direction we choose. Even the weather is a tool in God's hands to guide and direct us in the way in which we should go.
Just
ponder that as you go about this day. Remember Balaam in the Bible and ask God
to help you think in terms of the spiritual as well as the physical
world that exists all around you.
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