Scripture For The Day Numbers 22:22-35 GNB

Balaam and his Donkey

God was angry that Balaam was going aside to curse his people, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the LORD stood in the road to block him.

When the donkey saw the angel standing there holding a sword, it left the road and turned into the fields. Balaam would manhandle the donkey and brought it back onto the road.

Then the angel stood where the road narrowed between two vineyards and had a stone wall on each side.

When the donkey saw the angel, it moved over against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. Again Balaam would beat the donkey.

Once more the angel moved ahead; he stood in a narrow place where there was no room at all to pass on either side.

This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it would lay down. Balaam lost his temper and began beating the donkey again with his stick.

Then the LORD gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?”

Balaam answered, “Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you.

The donkey replied, “Am I not the same donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Have I ever treated you like this before?”

“No,” he answered.

Then the LORD let Balaam see the angel standing there with his sword; and Balaam threw himself face downwards on the ground.

The angel demanded, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come to block your way, because you should not be making this journey.

But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.”

Balaam replied, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home.

But the angel said, “Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with them.

Summary of Numbers 22

The story of Balaam is one of the most popular story in the book of numbers I would like to ask a question would you accept money to do something you knew was wrong? The story in Numbers 22– 35 tells us of a man called Balaam who made that decision to do something which he knew was not right in the sight of God.

He could foresee the future for those who believed in, or at least knew about the God of Israel to the degree that he could be influenced by the Spirit to pronounce a blessing or a curse upon them.

The king of Moab tried to hire Balaam to curse Israel so that the Moabites could defeat them in battle. I was amazed by verse 30, but as you read this beautiful chapter, think about what you would have done if you were Balaam and what you could have learned from the experience.

THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU