Once upon a time there was a man named Balaam. One day, a king named Balak asked Balaam for help. Balak wanted Balaam to say something bad about the people of Israel because he was afraid of them. Balaam knew that God did not want that, but the king offered him many gifts. So Balaam set off, on his faithful little donkey.
But God did not want Balaam to do anything evil. On the way, God put an angel with a shining sword in the way. Balaam could not see the angel, but his donkey could. The donkey was very afraid. He ran off the path into a field. Balaam was angry and beat the donkey to get him back on the road.
Then the angel stood in the way again, this time in a narrow place. The donkey pressed himself against a wall so as not to hit the angel, and in doing so he pinched Balaam’s foot. Balaam was angry again and struck the donkey.
The angel stood in the way a third time, and this time the path was so narrow that the donkey could not pass at all. Out of sheer fear, the donkey simply lay down. Then Balaam became really angry and hit the donkey again.
Then God did something miraculous: He let the donkey speak! The donkey turned to Balaam and said, “Why do you strike me? Haven’t I always served you well?” Balaam was so amazed that he simply talked to the donkey. He said, “You’ve made a fool of me!” But then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he could see the angel.
The angel explained: “The donkey protected you, because the way was dangerous. I will not punish him, but rather you, Balaam, for God does not want you to do anything evil.” Balaam was startled and said, “I’m sorry.” The angel told him to say only what God gave him.
Balaam obeyed and said no evil about the people of Israel. Instead, he did what God wanted and blessed them.
Message of history
God can help us make the right decisions. Sometimes he shows us the way in an unexpected way.
Bible passage
The story of Balaam and the talking donkey can be found in Numbers 22:21-35:
“Then Balaam got up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22Then the wrath of God was kindled, and he went away; and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to resist him. But he rode on his donkey, and two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing on the road, with the drawn sword in his hand. Then the donkey strayed from the path and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey to lead her on the way. 24Then the angel of the Lord came into the path between the vineyards, where there were walls on both sides. 25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed against the wall and caught Balaam’s foot against the wall. then he beat her even more. 26Then the angel of the Lord went on and went into a narrow place where there was no room to evade, neither on the right nor on the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. Then Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his stick. 28Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me three times? 29Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you are wanton me.” Oh, if I had a sword in my hand, I would have slain you now! 30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden from time immemorial to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do this to you? He said, “No! 31Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with the drawn sword in his hand. then he bowed and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey three times?” Behold, I myself have come to resist, for the way leads to destruction before me. 33 And the donkey saw me, and avoided it three times. If she had not avoided me, verily, I would have killed you now and left her alive! 34Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in my way.” And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back. 35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall speak only what I will tell you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”
