“God’s Determination to Bless: The Story of the Foolish Prophet and the Wise Ass (Numbers 22)”
Numbers 22 | 4/27/25 | Thad Yessa
Talking animals are not a new idea to, we read of them in books, see them in kids shows, we even have critically acclaimed movies about them [from Mister Ed, Scooby-doo, Bugs Bunny, Dory, Bluey, etc.]; we even know that the idea of talking animals is found in the Bible, the serpent in the garden and the talking donkey... When we think of a talking donkey today, a lot of us probably picture the character from Shrek — that energetic, wisecracking companion who always had an opinion, whether it was wanted or not.
And while Shrek’s Donkey was meant to make us laugh, in Scripture, there’s a talking donkey who probably makes us laugh as well, but this passage has far more for us than just a humorous tale.
Numbers 22:1-41
Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times.a” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the Lordsaid to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” 39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD…thanks be to God.
BIG IDEA: God's sovereignty and steadfast love for His people remain constant, even when we are unaware of what He's doing behind the scenes.
We have to note that this peculiar and comical story takes place as an almost outside observer. We are getting a peak not into the Israelites journey but into that of a surrounding nation. We focus in largely on an peculiar character, Balaam, who you may not be sure right now if he is good, bad, or indifferent.
-
1 God's Faithfulness to Fulfill His Promises (vv. 1–5)
As Israel encamps by the plains of Moab, they are standing on the brink of receiving the promises given to Abraham centuries earlier, the land of Canaan.
God has been utterly faithful, though they have been faithless in the wilderness.
Balak, king of Moab, sees Israel and trembles over their number and their victory. His fear shows that God's promises are not empty.God declared to Abram all the way back in Genesis 12:1-3, 7 that:
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”
Israel stands on the plains of Moab, right at the doorstep of Canaan the long awaited land promised centuries earlier to Abraham.
What needs to be recognized is that the Israelites are there not because they have been flawless.
In the wilderness, they grumbled, rebelled, and doubted CONSTANTLY.
Yet God has remained faithful. His promises were never based on their performance but on His sovereign grace.But just because God's promises are sure doesn't mean the enemies of God will not oppose them...
2 God's Sovereignty Over the Plots of His Enemies (vv. 6–21)
Balak, King of Moab, looking across his border in terror at the reality of the Israelites as new neighbors. Given what the Israelites had done in the previous chapter to Sihon and Og, this was perhaps not a surprising response. The prospect of conventional warfare against Israel seemed hopeless to Balak and the Moabites. Israel’s vast numbers and victories in the last chapter made for a less-than-promising battle. Balak decides to an unconventional strategy, one that, in the ancient world, was seen as a true weapon of mass destruction: a curse from the gods.
In ancient thought, a well-placed curse could decisively shift the balance of power, crippling an otherwise invincible foe.
Desperate for such supernatural intervention, Balak sought out Balaam, an international prophet for hire with a reputation for wielding spiritual influence.
Balak sends an entourage to summon Balaam, saying, "I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed" (vv. 5–6).
If Balaam could unleash a divine curse upon Israel, Balak believed victory would finally be within reach.The elders of Moab traveled to Balaam carrying Balak’s message with a substantial down payment on the proposed divination contract (v. 7). Balaam's response was cautious: he invited them to stay the night so that he could consult "the LORD" about the matter (v. 8).
Unexpectedly, Balaam invoked the personal covenant name of Israel’s God, Yahweh, as the one from whom he would seek guidance. It raises a troubling possibility: if Balaam could truly consult Yahweh, might he be able to persuade Him to change His blessing into a curse? Perhaps Balaam thought he had enough influence with the divine to achieve the desired outcome.
It’s a mistake to assume from Balaam's words that he was a faithful worshiper of the Lord. Like a skilled politician, Balaam knew how to play the "God card" whenever it suited his purposes. He clearly knew of Yahweh and apparently had received messages from Him, but the true nature of his relationship with God is deliberately left ambiguous.
Sure enough, though, the Lord appeared to Balaam that night and asked him, "Who are these men with you?"(v. 9). At first glance, the question seems unnecessary.
But throughout Scripture, God's questions are never for His own enlightenment. They are invitations for self-examination.When God asked Adam, "Have you eaten from the tree?" (Genesis 3:11), it was to prompt confession.
When He asked Isaiah, "Whom shall I send?" (Isaiah 6:8), it was an opportunity for Isaiah to volunteer.
Here too, God's question to Balaam was meant to provoke reflection: Who truly had the authority to command him? Were these mere men, representatives of a powerful king, worthy of greater allegiance than the God of Israel? Balaam needed to consider whose voice he would obey.
Balaam’s answer, however, revealed much about his heart.
He gave a carefully edited version of Balak’s message (compare v. 11 to vv. 5–6). Balaam omitted key details:He left out the fact that Israel had merely encamped near Moab and posed no direct threat.
He ignored the flattering assertion that Balaam had sovereign power to bless and curse.
In leaving out these details, Balaam subtly shaded the truth, minimizing Balak’s aggressive intentions and exaggerating his own neutrality.
Yet God's response left no room for negotiation: "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed" (v. 12).
The covenant promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12 "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse.” Rings loud.God had spoken clearly and decisively. His blessing on His people was irrevocable, and no diviner, no sorcerer, no king could overturn it.
By the time Balak’s entourage returned, the message resembled a game of Telephone. Instead of hearing that Balaam could not curse Israel because they were blessed by the Lord, Balak heard only that Balaam refused to come (v. 14).
Assuming it was a negotiation tactic, Balak sweetened the offer, promising Balaam great honor and reward if he would reconsider (vv. 15–17).When the more distinguished delegation arrived, Balaam faced a critical decision: the promise of wealth and prestige on one hand, and the clear command of the Lord on the other, "You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed" (v. 12).
At first, Balaam’s reply sounded spiritual and resolute: "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God" (v. 18).
But Balaam quickly betrayed his true motives by adding, "Stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me" (v. 19).
If Balaam truly respected God's command, there would have been no need for further inquiry. His willingness to entertain a second audience revealed his lingering hope that somehow God might relent or that Balaam might find a loophole to seize Balak’s gold.God’s answer came: "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you" (v. 20).
This was not a straightforward command but a conditional concession, not overturning the earlier prohibition but exposing Balaam’s heart.
By highlighting the summons of mere men, God was again asking Balaam, as He had earlier implied: Whose authority matters most?Balaam stood at a crossroads. Would he chase men’s glory or submit to the command of the Lord?
Yet even Balaam’s rebellion was restrained. If he went, he would be on God’s leash, allowed only to speak the words the Lord would give him.But God is sovereign even over the plans of His enemies.
God initially forbids Balaam from going but when Balaam persists, God permits it, not because He is defeated, but because He will turn the curse into a blessing.
Like with the NFL draft, a good executive team isn’t merely looking at just one player, but they are thinking several picks ahead to best advantage their team, God is several moves ahead of Balaam and Balak, because He is working out His plan which He established before foundation of the world.“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20).”
The ultimate example of this is the cross.
The greatest scheme of Satan and man, the death of Jesus, became the very means by which salvation came to the world.
But even as Balaam sets out on his journey, God will make His power unmistakably known...3 God's Power Through an Unlikely Messenger (vv. 22–30)
Balaam’s lesson in humility came through one of the most ironic incidents in Scripture.
As Balaam journeyed toward Moab, the angel of the Lord stood in his path with a drawn sword (v. 23). It was a terrifying sight one that Balaam's donkey clearly understood, though Balaam himself remained blind. Three times the angel blocked the way; three times the donkey resisted Balaam’s urging.First, she veered off the road, earning a beating (v. 23).
Then, squeezed against a wall, she crushed Balaam’s foot, provoking another blow (v. 25).
Finally, with no escape possible, she simply lay down in the road, and Balaam beat her with his staff (vv. 26–27).
At that moment, the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth.
"What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" she asked (v. 28).
Balaam, without any shock at speaking to an animal, replied angrily: "Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."The donkey calmly answered: "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life? Is it my habit to treat you this way?"
You have to imagine that if you are an Israelite that when this story is recounted just how much laughter it must have brought every as they picture this hilarious story! Not only does Balaam talk back to the donkey but he loses the argument!
The miracle here is not just that a donkey spoke, but that God can command any creature He has made.
The real wonder is Balaam’s blindness and impotence:This so-called "seer" could not perceive the angel of the Lord standing right before him, though his donkey could.
This man, hired to curse an entire nation with mere words, could not even harm a donkey except by beating her like a fool.
Balaam, the supposed master of divine insight and power, was exposed as spiritually blind and pathetically weak, while a simple donkey, made wise and bold by God, saw clearly and spoke truly.
God uses the lowly, the unexpected, the foolish to shame the proud.
Even a donkey can become a prophet when God wills it!This particular section points us to a sad reality and a comfort. How often are we just like Balaam who knew of God, but didn’t personally know God. It is one thing to have lots of information to convey, or spirituality to show, but unless it is rooted in a personal relationship with God through Christ, we are just as blind to the spiritual reality as Balaam. Or how many of us are unaware of the presence of God and his leading? How often do we ignore the Spirit’s direction due to our divided hearts between following after God and following after the idols of this world?
BUT the comfort is that God can use the least capable and do amazing things. God is highlighting for Balaam that it isn’t the quality of the messenger but of the message that matters. Are you discouraged by your weakness to declare God’s message?How many times have we cut ourselves out of the process of sharing the gospel with someone because we disqualify ourselves? We reason ourselves out of the equation because:
We think we may not know the answer to people’s questions.
We ourselves have participated in workplace gossip.
Our family knows our history, and therefore we think it tarnishes the message.
You are exactly the kind of instrument God delights to use! The power is not in the messenger but in the God who speaks through them. God uses the weak and foolish things to shame the wise (1 Cor 1:27).
In Christ, your weakness becomes a platform for His strength.
Yet God’s work in Balaam’s life reveals not only His power, but also His incredible patience...4 God's Mercy Toward the Wayward and Foolish (vv. 31–35)
When the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, he saw the angel of the Lord standing before him with a drawn sword (v. 31). The angel rebuked Balaam for beating his donkey the very animal whose obedience had saved Balaam’s life.
Ironically, while Balaam had been threatening to kill his donkey with a sword, the Angel Lord stood over Balaam, ready to strike him down.At last, Balaam realized the depth of his folly.
If he believed his faithful donkey deserved death for resisting him, how much more did he himself deserve judgment for resisting the Lord and not for obedience, but for the sake of a big payout! He confessed his sin, admitting that he had not understood who was truly summoning him (v. 34).Through the humbling lesson with the donkey, Balaam learned he was not an independent agent. Like the donkey, he was simply to go where he was led and speak only what he was commanded.
Now, with Balaam sufficiently humbled, the Lord permitted him to continue on to Moab but with a firm reminder: he must speak only the word the Lord gave him (v. 35).
How many times has Christ stood in our path, calling us back from disaster?
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Ultimately, Christ Himself became the barrier between us and death, bearing the curse we deserved.
God's patience is not permission to continue sinning but an invitation to repentance.
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
Repent and turn to Christ, whose arms are still open wide.Finally, even through Balaam’s reluctant obedience, God's unstoppable blessing breaks forth...
5 God's Blessing in Abundance and Inevitability. (vv. 36–41)
Some of the messengers presumably go on ahead to let Balak know of Balaam's coming, so Balak goes to meet him at an unnamed city on the edge of his territory (Num 22:36). He greets him with a rebuke, assuming that Balaam ignored such an urgent request because he thought Balak did not have the means to pay him well (v. 37). For Balak, cursing Israel is a financial matter, but the recently chastened Balaam corrects him, noting that he can "speak only what God puts in my mouth" (v. 38).
Balak and Balaam begin heading toward the Israelites, stopping first at the otherwise unknown Kiriath Huzoth, where Balak made sacrifices and gave a feast for Balaam and the recently returned officials (Num 22:39-40). This was just one way to show Balaam honor and reward him, a foretaste that more was to come. Whether such rewards would be enough to get him to do Balak's bidding remains to be seen.
Over the next chapters (23–24), Balaam will speak blessing after blessing over Israel, not cursing. God’s grace is inevitable.
God’s blessings are like a mighty river — you cannot dam them up or divert their flow.
In Christ, the blessings secured for us — forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life — are irreversible. Nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth can reverse what Christ has purchased.
Rest today in the abundance of God's blessing in Christ.
You are not fighting for victory; you are living from victory, because Christ has secured it forever.Conclusion :
This is the point: God’s posture toward His people is one of blessing.
From the very beginning, God's first act toward humanity was to bless them (Gen 1:28). His first words to Abraham included the promise of blessing for him and his descendants (Gen 12:3). The priestly benediction God commanded for Israel began with these words: “The Lord bless you and keep you” (Num 6:24). And today, through faith in Abraham’s ultimate descendant, Jesus Christ, that blessing has been poured out on all nations (Gal 3:14). In Christ, God "has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing" (Eph 1:3).
God leans toward His children with blessing in His eyes and love in His arms. Even His discipline is proof of His love (Heb. 12:5–6).But do we truly believe this?
Do we picture God as a loving Father eager to bless, or as a harsh judge waiting to punish?
What would it look like if we truly lived as people confident in God's blessing?
What emotions rise up when we believe His love, and what emotions surface when we doubt it?God constantly reassures us in His Word: His heart is for His children, not against them.
Our call is to align our thoughts and feelings with that reality, to rest in the unshakable truth that God's first move toward His children is always blessing.God protects His people not because of their merit, but because of His mercy. In Christ, we are eternally secure from condemnation, curse, and wrath.
From beginning to end, this story is not about the strength of God's people; in fact, we read nothing of the Israelites’ involvement in this story, but the strength of God’s faithfulness promises.
Numbers 22 pulls back the curtain on the reality of God’s grace:
Faithful despite our failures.
Sovereign over our enemies.
Powerful through weakness.
Merciful to the wayward.
Overflowing in blessing.
And all of this is fulfilled and secured for us in Jesus.
In Him, every promise is Yes.
In Him, every blessing is ours.
In Him, every victory is secure.