When the Israelites camped near the Jordan, approaching Jericho and the territory of Balak, king of Moab, he became fearful. He saw how numerous they were and had heard of their exploits—how they humbled the mighty Egyptian army and had recently defeated the Amorites. Certain that he too would be overcome, Balak turned to Balaam the seer. He sent messengers to request that Balaam curse the Israelites, hoping this would lead to their defeat and expulsion, since Balaam was known for the power of his blessings and curses.
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. – Numbers 22:4-5 (NIV)
Balaam: A Gentile Prophet
Balak summons Balaam with the expectation that he will use his spiritual influence to curse the Israelites and thus weaken them, enabling Moab to avoid direct military conflict. His fear stems from the sheer size and strength of this nomadic tribe and their recent victories. Balak, uncertain of how to handle this looming threat, turns to Balaam—historically regarded as someone who discerns the will of God and whose blessings and curses had probably worked for the Moabites in the past. He seems to attribute his prior successes to Balaam’s intervention, and wants to use him again so that he may gain confidence to hope that spiritual means might succeed again.
The elders of Moab and Midian set out to bring Balaam, carrying the divination fee with them. The Midianites were likely fanning the flames of fear and doubt for Balak, given their knowledge of Moses, who had married one of their own, and their awareness of the Israelites’ growing strength and past victories. When the messengers reached Balaam, they delivered Balak’s message to him. Balaam invited them to stay the night, explaining that he would report back with whatever answer the Lord gave him. The Moabite officials then remained with Balaam as instructed.
God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” – Numbers 22:9 (NIV)
The interaction between God and Balaam suggests an existing and functional relationship. The fact that God does indeed speak to Balaam and engage in what seems to be a genuine conversation implies that this is not a one-time occurrence, but rather part of an ongoing relationship. While Balaam is not an Israelite prophet, his ability to converse with God indicates that God’s communication was not limited strictly to Israel.
Balaam relayed Balak’s message to God, explaining that the Moabite king had requested a curse upon the Israelites, hoping it would enable him to defeat them. In response, God told Balaam not to go with the officials, as the Israelites were blessed and should not be cursed. The next morning, Balaam informed Balak’s officials that the Lord had refused to allow him to go.
The Moabite officials returned to Balak with the news of Balaam’s refusal. Undeterred, Balak sent a more distinguished and numerous delegation, urging Balaam not to let anything prevent him from coming, offering him great rewards in exchange for cursing the Israelites.
Asking God to Reconsider
But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.” – Numbers 22:18-19 (NIV)
Balaam understood God’s command clearly, yet deep within, he may have still desired to go to Balak—possibly drawn by the promise of reward and prestige. Despite having already received a firm answer, he invited the men to stay another night so he could inquire of God once more.
Do we, like Balaam, persist in asking God the same thing, hoping His answer will change? Often, we seek to bend God’s will to match our desires, hoping He might grant at least part of what we’re asking. In Balaam’s case, God permitted him to go, not as a change of mind, but as an act of concession, allowing Balaam to follow the path he seemed determined to take, even though it was not in line with God’s original instruction.
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” – Numbers 22:20 (NIV)
Balaam rose early, saddled his donkey, and set out with the Moabite officials. But the anger of the LORD burned against him for going, and the Angel of the LORD stood in his path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. As they travelled, the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword and turned off into a field. Balaam, unaware of the angel’s presence, beat the donkey to guide it back onto the path.
The Angel of the LORD then positioned himself in a narrow passage between vineyards, with walls on either side. Again, the donkey saw the angel and, trying to avoid him, pressed against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam struck the donkey once more. A third time, the Angel of the LORD stood in a place so narrow that there was no room to turn. Seeing the angel, the donkey lay down under Balaam. Enraged, Balaam beat it with his staff.
Unable to See God’s Path
At that moment, the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it questioned Balaam, asking why it had been beaten three times. Balaam, still blind to the angel’s presence, accused the donkey of making a fool of him and said he would kill it if he had a sword. The donkey responded by reminding Balaam of its long-standing faithfulness and asked whether it had ever acted this way before. Balaam admitted that it had not.
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. – Numbers 22:31 (NIV)
Balaam the seer was unable to see the Angel of the LORD, while his donkey clearly perceived His presence. This contrast highlights a deeper truth: when a person stops truly listening to God, they may lose the ability to discern His presence altogether. In such moments, God may use other parts of His creation—like a donkey—to speak and redirect us.
The irony is striking: the seer, known for his spiritual insight, is blind, while the animal, often viewed as simple and lowly, recognises the divine. This reflects a spiritual principle—creation instinctively knows its Creator, but fallen mankind, entangled in pride or drawn to the prince of this world, often fails to see what should be clear. Balaam, though a man of spiritual reputation, could not recognise the presence of the LORD because his heart was already leaning towards reward and self-interest.
The Angel of the LORD rebuked Balaam for his reckless path, explaining that the donkey had saved his life by turning away. Balaam admitted his sin, saying he hadn’t realised the LORD was opposing him and offered to turn back if it displeased God.
The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. – Numbers 22:35 (NIV)
Understanding the Path of God
When Moses was returning to Egypt after his 40 years of exile, before he entered the land, God was about to put him to death. However, Zipporah, his wife, acted swiftly—she circumcised their son Gershom, which caused God to relent and spare Moses. As a servant of God, Moses had failed to fully obey God’s command and did not grasp the seriousness of it. Yet Zipporah, a Gentile woman, recognised what was lacking in Moses and responded accordingly.
Similarly, A donkey, often seen as one of the most stubborn animals, was able to recognise and obey the command of God, while Balaam, the seer, resisted. In this moment, Balaam proved to be more stubborn than his own donkey. Balaam did eventually go to Balak and the Moabites, but spoke only what God instructed him to say. On five occasions, he sought the Lord and returned each time with blessings for God’s chosen people. Despite Balak’s attempts to alter the outcome by changing his instructions to Balaam or shifting Balaam’s physical location, the message remained unchanged. Each time, Balaam delivered the same prophecy.
We must not go against the path God sets before us. When He shows us the way, we sometimes respond with fervent prayers—not to seek understanding, but to try and persuade Him to change His will. Even though God continues to guide us back, we often drift away again in pursuit of our own desires. Let us learn from Balaam and Moses—not to stray from God’s path, but to remain open and attentive to His voice. May we not shut ourselves off from hearing Him, to the point that someone else must reveal His will to us.
Discussion Questions
- What motivates Balak to seek Balaam’s help against the Israelites, and what does he hope to achieve through him?
- How does the interaction between God and Balaam reflect the nature of their relationship?
- Why was Balaam, a seer, unable to perceive the presence of the Angel of the LORD, while his donkey could?
The Jordan Valley 
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