Donkeys, Angels, and Wickedness- Some Miracles Aren't Enough🫢😱

The story of Balaam unfolds as a cautionary tale, illustrating the profound lengths to which God would go to communicate with a prophet. Despite Balaam's significant potential and the extraordinary interventions of a talking donkey and the Angel of the Lord, his narrative becomes a stark reminder of the insufficiency of mere miracles.

This story serves as a lesson, cautioning against assuming spiritual maturity based solely on witnessing miraculous events or hearing the divine voice of God.

A genuine divine life necessitates continual submission and humility. In the pages of Balaam's story, donkeys, angels, and the consequences of unyielding sin converge, unveiling the truth that, at times, even extraordinary miracles may not be enough.

Back Story:

Balak was the king of Moab, a region located to the east of Israel. The story involving Balak is primarily found in the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in chapters 22 to 24. Balak wanted Israel to be cursed. But why?

The Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, were on a journey through the wilderness after their liberation from Egypt. They had already encountered and defeated some neighboring nations, and the reputation of their God, who had performed miraculous acts on their behalf, spread fear among the surrounding peoples.

Balak, alarmed by the growing strength and numbers of the Israelites, particularly in light of their victories over other nations, perceived them as a threat to the security of his kingdom, Moab. In an attempt to neutralize this perceived threat, Balak sought the assistance of a diviner or prophet named Balaam.

Proverbs 29:25: "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

This verse emphasizes the potential pitfalls associated with fearing human opinions or judgments. It describes the fear of man as a "snare," suggesting that it can entangle and hinder individuals. The contrasting advice is to trust in the Lord for safety, highlighting the importance of placing one's trust in God rather than being driven by fear of human perceptions.

Balak believed that Balaam's ability to bless and curse could influence the outcome of events.

Balak's intention was to have Balaam curse the Israelites, believing that a divine curse would weaken them and make them susceptible to defeat in battle. Balak saw the Israelites as a potential military adversary, and he hoped that by enlisting the services of Balaam to invoke a curse, he could gain a strategic advantage over them.

Despite Balak's persistent requests, Balaam initially resisted going with the messengers. Balak attempts to manipulate Balaam several times to curse the Israelites and he eventually agrees to go with the messengers to curse the Israelites:

• First Request (Numbers 22:5-6): Balak sent messengers to Balaam, requesting him to come and curse the Israelites. Balak described the Israelites as a people who had come out of Egypt and had covered the face of the earth. He feared that they were too numerous and powerful, and he sought Balaam's assistance to curse them.

• Second Request (Numbers 22:15-17): Balaam, initially hesitant to go with the messengers, eventually went with them. Balak, upon meeting Balaam, reiterated his desire for him to curse the Israelites. He promised Balaam great honor and rewards if he would comply with his request.

• Third Request (Numbers 22:17-18): Balaam, in response to Balak's messengers, stated that even if Balak were to give him his house full of silver and gold, he could not go beyond the word of the Lord his God to do less or more. However, he asked Balak's messengers to stay overnight so that he could inquire of the Lord for guidance.

• Fourth Request (Numbers 22:19-21): God, in response to Balaam's inquiry, instructed him to go with the men but to speak only what God would tell him. Balaam, seemingly going against God's initial response, rose in the morning and saddled his donkey, ready to go with Balak's princes.

• Fifth Request (Numbers 22:36-37): As Balaam journeyed with the princes of Balak, he encountered an angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword. The angel told Balaam that he could go with the men but to speak only the word that God would tell him. Balaam, acknowledging his sin, offered to turn back, but the angel instructed him to go on with the princes.

On this journey, the incident with the talking donkey occurred, as the donkey saw the angel of the Lord and veered off the path to avoid harm:

"Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 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. 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."

The strange happening unfolds as the donkey, perceiving the divine presence, veered off the road into a field. Frustrated by the unexpected deviation, Balaam struck the donkey to redirect it. Yet, the angel of the Lord continued to block the way in a narrow path between vineyards, prompting the donkey to press against a wall, crushing Balaam's foot in the process. In response, Balaam struck the donkey again.

Remarkably, the donkey, under the influence of divine perception, found a way to navigate the constrained path, prompting the angel to stand in a place with no room to turn aside. With no alternative route, the donkey, in an act of preservation, laid down under Balaam. Frustrated by the donkey's behavior, Balaam struck the donkey once more.

Here, the strangeness of the event reaches its climax. The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it spoke to Balaam, questioning his actions and revealing the angel's presence. In an astonishing display of divine intervention, the donkey's words were a rebuke to Balaam's harsh treatment.

Numbers 22:28: "Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me three times?'

The angel of the Lord then revealed himself to Balaam, explaining that the donkey had saved his life by turning aside from the angel's presence. The angel reiterated that if the donkey had not turned aside, he would have killed Balaam but spared the donkey. Balaam acknowledged his sin, expressing remorse for not recognizing the angel earlier.

Fascinatingly, it can be asserted that God orchestrated both the dispatch of the angel of the Lord, representing justice, and the opening of the donkey's eyes and mouth to perceive the impending danger orchestrated by the same angel. 

In this convergence, mercy and justice harmoniously unfolded in tandem, illustrating a divine orchestration where God's multifaceted attributes operate cohesively. It serves as a profound reminder that within the intricate tapestry of God's actions, justice and mercy can be dispatched together, unveiling the beauty of His divine governance.

This unusual and miraculous event serves as a significant part of the narrative, emphasizing God's intervention to ensure that Balaam's actions aligned with the divine will and purpose regarding the blessings He intended to bestow upon the Israelites.

When Balaam reached the location overlooking the Israelite camp, instead of cursing them as Balak desired, Balaam blessed the Israelites under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He spoke several prophecies, including the famous Messianic prophecy in Numbers 24:17, which anticipates the coming of a future ruler from the line of Jacob.

Numbers 24:17: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth."

This verse contains a Messianic prophecy (a prophecy that refers to a prediction or revelation in the Old Testament of the Bible that foretells the coming of the Messiah) spoken by Balaam, foreseeing a future ruler from the line of Jacob who will hold authority and bring victory. This is interpreted as a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ.

While Balaam didn't curse the Israelites as Balak wished, later biblical passages, such as Numbers 31 and Joshua 13, suggest that Balaam's counsel led to a different form of disobedience and enticement of the Israelites, for which he faced consequences.

Numbers: 3:16: "They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people."

This verse suggests that Balaam's counsel played a role in enticing the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord. The reference to the "Peor incident" likely alludes to an event where the Israelites were led into idolatry and sexual immorality with the women of Moab (Numbers 25:1-9).

The New Testament also references Balaam as an example of someone who went astray for the sake of gain (2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11):

2 Peter 2:15: "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness."

This verse is part of a passage in 2 Peter 2 that warns against false teachers and their destructive influence. The mention of Balaam here underscores his deviation from the right path due to his love for the wages of wickedness.

Balaam's story serves as a cautionary example of someone who allowed greed and worldly gain to lead him astray.

Jude 1:11: "Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion."

Jude, similarly to 2 Peter, addresses the presence of false teachers and ungodly influences. The reference to Balaam's error highlights his pursuit of profit at the expense of obedience to God. This verse connects Balaam's error with the destructive consequences faced by those who prioritize personal gain over righteousness.

In both passages, Balaam is presented as a negative example, illustrating the dangers of straying from the path of righteousness for the sake of worldly rewards.

The themes of greed, pursuit of profit, and the rejection of God's ways are central to these warnings against false teachers and ungodly behavior. Balaam's story serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of aligning one's actions with God's will and resisting the temptations of material gain that can lead to spiritual compromise.

The significance of a speaking donkey is profound. It underscores God's ability to utilize unconventional means to communicate His will. In this instance, God employed a speaking donkey to capture Balaam's attention and redirect him from a path that would have led to disobedience.

This extraordinary event serves as a reminder that God's communication is not limited to traditional or expected channels. His messages can come through unexpected vessels, emphasizing the importance of being attuned to His voice even in the most unconventional circumstances.

The narrative of Balaam and his journey illustrates a nuanced interplay between God's guidance, human choices, and the principle of free will. While God intervened dramatically through the speaking donkey to prevent Balaam from continuing on a potentially disastrous path, there were instances where Balaam, despite knowing God's will, made choices that went against it.

This aspect of the story underscores the tension between divine guidance and human agency. God, in His mercy and sovereignty, provides guidance, warnings, and interventions, yet He also respects the freedom of individuals to make their own choices—even if those choices may lead them away from His intended path. This narrative contributes to the understanding of the complex relationship between God's sovereignty, human free will, and the consequences of our choices.

Resist the temptation to become a modern-day Balaam, whose narrative challenges the notion that hearing God's voice is a definitive marker of divine approval. Perhaps, in the profound silence where God's voice isn't audible, lies a deeper connection—a reliance on steps of faith rather than explicit commands.

The contrast suggests that the enigmatic beauty of God's guidance may be found in the quiet, where overwhelming silence doesn't signify abandonment but, rather, a sacred journey. So, in moments of overwhelming stillness, engage in conversation with God, knowing that the absence of a booming voice doesn't equate to abandonment or disapproval or judgment.

You might just be traversing the right path, and Jesus is silently accompanying you. Let the "donkeys" and visits of angels in life not be misconstrued as convictions of moral character as this story reveals that the "donkeys" appeared due to stubborn rebellion and sin.

Embrace the quiet, for in it, God is present and at peace.

"Glory to God, whose wisdom and grace illuminate our paths through articles that inspire, guide, and uplift. May His light shine through every word, bringing wisdom and understanding to those who seek His truth."

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