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Numbers Chapter 22   (ESV)

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. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 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 LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

 

 

REFLECTION:

• Read aloud this passage. It’s better to read the whole chapter for a better understanding of the whole episode.
• God can speak even through the mouths of animals. God used the donkey to get Balaam’s attention.  And Peter repented after he heard the rooster’s crow (Matt 26:34).  Sometimes we fail to hear the voice of God not because He is silent, but because we are not listening.
• In the spiritual life, we learn to be attentive to the Lord’s voice whenever and however He may speak. Developing listening ears is essential to spiritual growth.

 

 

PRAYER:

• Recall my “Life’s journey map” and go through the path of my life again. Where am I right now?  What can I see in my life as a signal that there is an “angel of the Lord” blocking my path? How do I respond when the direction of my life is undergoing a “mid-course correction”?  Who has been my “angel”?
• Thank God for the angels in my life. Ask God to help me to hear His voice and to recognize his “blocking” or leading.