Numbers 22:25 - The Miracle of Donkey's Eyes

As God led the nation of Israel out from their captivity in Egypt, they encountered opposition from their distant cousins the Moabites.

The king of Moab sent messengers to hire a diviner or oracle named Balaam to place a curse on the Israelites. Even though Balaam was not Jewish, he seemed to have enough sense to respond, “Stay here overnight....in the morning I will tell you whatever the Lord directs me to say.” (Numbers 22:8, New Living Translation, 2015)

God told him, "No, don't do it. Israel can't be cursed because I've already put a blessing on them." (v.12, KJC paraphrase)

The Moabites came back again with a substantial bribe. Balaam started to give in, and God said, "You can speak a pronouncement over Israel, but only My divine blessing." (v.20, KJC)

Balaam saddled his donkey to go with the Moabite ambassadors. God knew that he had every intention of cursing the Israelites, and sent an angel to stop him. The donkey saw the angel and turned off the road into a field. Balaam hit the donkey to keep it moving.

They passed through a vineyard with a stone wall on either side of the road. Seeing the angel again, the donkey pushed up against the wall, crushing Balaam's foot.

When the angel appeared a third time, the donkey simply laid down. Balaam predictably hit the donkey again.

“Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. 'What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?' it asked Balaam." (v.28, NLT)

Instead of stopping to reconsider his actions, Balaam started arguing with the animal. “You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!” (v.29, NLT) The donkey asked, "Haven't I always served you well? Have I ever acted this way before?" Balaam could only say, "No." (v.30, KJC)

“31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. 32 'Why did you beat your donkey those three times?' the angel of the Lord demanded. 'Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. 33 Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.'” (vv.31-33, NLT)

Eventually, like the donkey, Balaam ended up having God put words in his mouth--a blessing on the Israelites, that "a star would come out of Jacob, and a scepter would rise out of Israel." (Numbers 23-24, esp. v.17)

The story of Balaam's donkey usually highlights the miracle of a beast talking and reasoning. But before the donkey ever opened its mouth, its eyes were open to see the angel of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, You know my thoughts and motives better than I know myself. When I've ignored what You've said, when I am stupidly, stubbornly heading in the wrong direction, when I start to get impatient with obstacles, open my eyes to see what You are trying to do in and through my life. Amen.

 

The illustration is found on multiple internet sites, please tell me if you figure out who the artist is!