The Israelites had just won two battles. They had taken out some very powerful kings, and received the possession of their lands. But, not everyone was happy about what was happening.
Numbers 22:2-3- And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Balak, the king of Moab, saw all the destruction that the Hebrew children were doing. He realized that God was on their side. He thought he could come up with a way to shift the odds into his favor.
Numbers 22:5-6- He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Balak knew of a prophet that was able to bless and curse. He thought if he had this prophet curse the children of Israel that he would be able to defeat them in battle. He sent a message to Balaam.
Numbers 21:7-8, 12-13- And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
God told Balaam "no", and so Balaam told the Moabite men that God wouldn't allow him to and that they had to leave. But, this didn't stop King Balak from trying again.
Balak sent more men who were even higher up in the government. He also sent a promise of great reward if Balaam would come to him.
Do you think Balaam should have said, "God already told me 'no'. So you're just gonna have to leave."? I think so, but he didn't.
Numbers 22:18-20- And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
God told Balaam that he could go with them, but that he had to say only what God told him to say.
Numbers 22:21- And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam got his donkey ready, and went with the men. The only problem was that God had already told him "no". So, it didn't make God happy that Balaam decided to go check out Balak's offer.
Numbers 22:22-23- And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
God sent His angel to stop Balaam. Balaam couldn't see the angel with the sword, but his donkey could. And she didn't want to go anywhere near it.
The donkey kept trying to get away from where the angel was, and this was making Balaam pretty angry!
Numbers 22:24-25- But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
First, she went off the road, and Balaam hit her for it. The next time she saw the angel, she fell against the wall that was beside her and she crushed Balaam's foot. Again, Balaam hit her for it.
Numbers 22:26-27- And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
This time, the donkey fell down and wouldn't move. Balaam hit her again. But then, God made something very interesting happen.
Numbers 22:28-30- And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
The donkey started talking to Balaam! And Balaam started talking back. He didn't even think it strange that he was having a conversation with an animal. But, God thought it was about time for Balaam to see why his donkey was acting this way.
Numbers 22:31-33- Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Balaam saw the angel, and this time he fell down.
The angel said that if it wasn't for the donkey Balaam would be dead right not. Then the angel told Balaam what to do.
Numbers 22:34-35- And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
The angel told Balaam only to say what the Lord wanted him to. Would he obey?
