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Bible story · Numbers 22:1–35
When the Donkey Spoke
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: Numbers 22:1–35 ↗
“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.”
Numbers 22:31 (KJV)The Story
Balak, king of Moab, was terrified of Israel. So he offered a prophet named Balaam a rich reward to put a curse on them. God told Balaam plainly not to curse the people He had blessed. But the money was tempting, and Balaam saddled his donkey and set out anyway.
On the road, the angel of the Lord stood in the way with a drawn sword. Balaam couldn’t see him, but his donkey could. She swerved into a field. Balaam beat her. Further on, she pressed against a wall and crushed his foot. He beat her again. Finally, in a narrow spot, she simply lay down. Balaam, furious, beat her a third time.
Then God opened the donkey’s mouth. “What have I done to you, that you’ve struck me these three times?” Balaam was so angry he argued back, as if a talking donkey were normal. Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing there with a sword. The donkey had saved his life.
Reflection
Balaam was the professional prophet, the one people paid to hear from God. Yet his donkey saw more clearly than he did. Why? Because Balaam’s heart was set on the reward, and when we want something badly enough, we stop seeing what God is putting in our path.
More Bible stories from Numbers. More about: Hearing God’s Voice
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