In the ancient land of Moab, there lived a man named Balaam, who was known far and wide for his ability to bless or curse. One day, Balak, the king of Moab, sent for Balaam, hoping he would curse the Israelites, who were encamped nearby and posed a threat to his kingdom.
Balaam set out on his journey, riding his donkey. Along the way, an angel of the Lord appeared, standing in the path with a drawn sword. The donkey saw the angel and turned aside, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall. Balaam, unaware of the angel, grew angry and struck the donkey. The angel moved ahead, blocking the path again. The donkey, seeing the angel once more, lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger flared, and he struck the donkey again.
Then, in a miraculous moment, the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it spoke to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” Balaam, astonished, replied, “Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you right now.” The donkey answered, “Am I not your donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” Balaam realized that something extraordinary was happening.
At that moment, the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel with the drawn sword. The angel questioned Balaam, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come here as an adversary because your way was perverse before me.” Balaam confessed his sin and bowed low.
When Balaam finally arrived before Balak, he did not curse the Israelites as the king had hoped. Instead, he blessed them, saying, “How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” Despite Balak’s insistence and attempts to bribe Balaam, the man of God could only speak the words the Lord put in his mouth¡ªwords of blessing for the Israelites.
In the end, Balaam’s journey was not about cursing or blessing; it was about recognizing the will of God. The donkey, in its humble way, had shown Balaam the path he needed to see.