Read Numbers 22
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”
20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
Balaam’s Donkey
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 Lordstanding 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. 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.
Go Deeper
Numbers 22 is best known for the talking donkey, which is no surprise that it grabs attention. However, the account of Balaam offers so much more than a novelty act. We see how important it is to constantly seek God’s guidance.
Chapter 22 opens with the Israelites camping in the plains of Moab after defeating the Canaanites and the Amorites. The Moabite king, Balak, is understandably nervous about having such a force hanging out in his territory, so he seeks supernatural help from a famous diviner: Balaam. A delegation of leaders went to Balaam asking for him to curse the Israelites but God directed him not to go, so Balaam refused and the delegation returned home empty-handed. Balak sent another group of even more prestigious leaders with an even greater reward offer to Balaam. This time, God permits Balaam to go with the leaders but instructs him to “Do only what I tell you.” The next morning, Balaam leaves, and we see that “God was very angry when he went”, sending an angel to stop him from making the journey.
This is where the story can get confusing. Why does God get angry with Balaam for going when He gave permission just the night before? At first glance, it can seem like God is being fickle here, but the rest of the story in this chapter illuminates the reason behind God’s anger.
God told Balaam to follow His instructions. To know what God wanted him to do, Balaam needed to listen for God’s guidance constantly. But we know that the diviner was not in tune with God and God knew this, too. Balaam did not see the angel God sent and did not take the hint from his donkey’s refusal to follow the path three times, because he was not listening to God. God had to physically alter the interaction of humans and animals with a talking donkey to get Balaam’s attention!
We, too, must constantly listen for God’s direction if we are to do what He tells us. Praying, reading the Bible, worshiping, Life Group accountability, ministry participation, and service help us stay attuned to God’s direction. We must also be ready to follow His lead, even if that means stopping, turning back, or going in a different direction.
Questions
- Has there been a time when you followed your own path to find that God wanted to lead you elsewhere?
- Which distractions of your daily life divert your attention from listening to God’s guidance?
- In what way can you attune your ear to hear God’s guidance more clearly this week? Share this with your Life Group and ask for accountability.
Listen Here
The Bible Project digs into Balaam and some other parts of Numbers in this podcast episode.
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5 thoughts on “Numbers 22”
I don’t think we fully realize who God is and his power and sovereignty over all things. The One who places leaders in authority to govern people (Balak), uses a conflicted sorcerer (Balaam), and a talking donkey to deliver his message, is the very same God we have the glorious privilege of serving. His plan cannot be thwarted. Isaiah reminds us “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (55:11). God’s job is to accomplish his word, our responsibility is to know and obey his word. Sometimes we get these roles confused. Let our prayer and focus be grounded in letting him lead us and obeying with an undivided heart. May he open our eyes to the things unseen where we behold him in all his glory.
BUT GOD has the plan, and even when it is not followed like He wants/designs, He still makes the way for His Glory. Being transformed into what God wants for our lives, proclaiming the Gospel, is a lifetime commitment and transformation. Did Balaam believe in God? yes. Did he obey God? eventually. But was God Lord for Balaam? no. What about for you?
God thank You for being not only God but my Lord. I desire to follow You without hesitation. Thank You for directing my path, for my ears to hear and listen well, for obedience in the path You lead without hesitation and eyes of understanding to be enlightened for Your will for me. Thank You for Your HESED love, unfailing, faithful, steadfast, loyal, covenant, undeserved, compassionate, enduring, reliable, complete, cherished, everlasting, kind, generous, no limit, endless, essential part of You, abounding, flowing out of eternity LOVE. Thank You for being able to praise You, glorify You, and give You honor for each minute of my life. Thank You for me seeing the world through Your love goggles, to hear and speak Your words of edification to people, to proclaim the gospel, and to be a person of love in Christ for You in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!
Lord, when there appear to be stubborn, disobedient, and mouthy “donkeys” in my path, help me to slow down to see if you are trying to redirect my path.
God is a God of detail. In the KJ version, the amplified version, and ESV, in verse 20, it says, …”IF the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them:…”
Balaam didn’t wait for them to call him in the morning but jumped up, saddled his donkey (not the KJ word used) and went. And God was angry.
That little two letter word if makes a big difference in how we see God. John 15:14, ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command you.
If, a very powerful word in God’s Word.
vs.29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool out of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now,” Don’t allow your own hurt pride to lead you to hurt others. Pause, redirection is key.