So here’s what happened: King Balak in Moab wanted the Israelites to be cursed, so the king sent for an international seer named Balaam who could do the cursing work.
In Numbers 22, Balak’s messengers talked with Balaam about making the trip to Moab. Eventually Balaam went with the messengers (22:21). But he didn’t walk. He rode his donkey.
Since Balaam was apparently not going with the conviction to obey the Lord, an angel of Yahweh opposed Balaam in the middle of the road. Balaam didn’t see the angel. The donkey, however, saw the angel and turned aside out of the road and into a field (Num. 22:23). Balaam, in his frustration and ignorance of the situation, struck the donkey!
The angel of the Lord then stood in a narrow path between vineyards in the field, with a wall on either side (Num. 22:24), and the donkey pushed against the wall and squished Balaam’s foot (22:25). Balaam struck the donkey a second time!
The angel of the Lord moved to block the path entirely, so the donkey lay down under Balaam (Num. 22:27). Balaam, again, was angry and, again, struck the donkey—a third time!
Now something different happened. “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?’” (Num. 22:28).
Did you notice the preface in front of the donkey’s words? The Lord “opened the mouth of the donkey.” We know that donkeys don’t talk—which is why it was incredible when one did. The action is miraculous: the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth. The donkey’s words function as a rebuke—ultimately from the Lord—against Balaam’s actions.
In Numbers 22:31, 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.” Balaam had been in danger and didn’t see it. The famous seer…couldn’t see. But the donkey saw what Balaam didn’t, and it recoiled from crossing the angel’s boundary.
Old Testament commentators point out that Balaam was frustrated three times because the donkey wouldn’t do what he wanted it to do, and this foreshadowed that King Balak would be frustrated three times with Balaam because Balaam would not do what the king wanted him to do. In other words, in Numbers 22 Balaam is frustrated with the donkey, but in Numbers 23-24 Balaam is going to be the “donkey” because he’s going to resist King Balak’s directions.
Balaam’s anger at the donkey foreshadows Balak’s anger at Balaam. And just as the donkey tells Balaam what needs to be said, in Numbers 23-24 Balaam will tell Balak what needs to be said.
Understandably, readers may scratch their heads at the notion of a talking donkey in Numbers 22. Again, we must see the miraculous nature of the speech. If Genesis 1:1 is true, then Numbers 22:28 is no problem for God. He opens barren wombs, pours plagues on Egypt, parts the Red Sea, and sends manna from heaven. The donkey talks in Numbers 22 because of a miracle.
Some readers might wonder if Balaam could have been dreaming. Maybe he was riding on his donkey and, while in some kind of trance or dream state, he heard the donkey talk. The problem with that idea is that no dream state is reported in Numbers 22. The narration of the event tells nothing of a vision or trance. Furthermore, we read these comments from Peter in the New Testament when he was addressing false teachers: “Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Pet. 2:15-16).
Because 2 Peter is inspired Scripture, we’re reading an authoritative interpretation of Numbers 22. Balaam was rebuked when a speechless donkey spoke. The donkey’s voice sounded human, for this was a miracle. And the speaking donkey served as a revelation of Balaam’s ineptitude. Balaam couldn’t see the angel of the Lord; he couldn’t see what was right in front of him! But the donkey could see the angel, and the donkey responded accordingly.
If Balaam was going to Moab to declare the word of the Lord, it would be the result not of Balaam’s cleverness or spiritual sight. It would be the result of the Lord’s enabling power. Just as the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, the Lord will open the mouth of Balaam to speak the truth to King Balak.
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