July 17, 2019

Balaam's Error

Numbers 22:21–41

Lauren Barnard
Wednesday's Devo

July 17, 2019

Wednesday's Devo

July 17, 2019

Central Truth

God showed Balaam mercy through a talking donkey because Balaam did not wait on the Lord, but instead sought his own selfish gain.

Key Verse | Numbers 22:38

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."

Numbers 22:21–41

21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam's Donkey and the Angel

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 1 22:32 Or reckless 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.

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.

Footnotes

[1] 22:32 Or reckless

Dive Deeper | Numbers 22:21–41

At the outset, I think we must address the elephant, or should I say donkey, in the room. Is anyone else struck by Balaam's response to his talking donkey as if a donkey talking were normal? Like does Balaam live in Narnia? How does he respond so nonchalantly to this crazy act of the Lord?

Though the mercy shown Balaam through a talking donkey is incredibly powerful, we must ask ourselves why the donkey had to speak in the first place. How did Balaam find himself in a position where God was ready to destroy him? To be honest, when I first read this story, I was a little confused by Balaam's error. To me it seemed that the Lord had told Balaam he could go, and then he went. Yet, Balaam's error is mentioned twice in the New Testament, so I knew he must have really messed up.

What was Balaam's error?

The Lord told him that IF he was called then he could go, but he took this as permission to go in the morning. He arose hastily and went in his own strength. This was a crucial error because he was to speak on the Lord's behalf to a nation that did not fear God. He must have the discipline to understand what the Lord was asking of him if he was going to say, "Thus says the Lord," to a rebellious nation. He had to get it 100% right. Balaam inquired of the Lord initially, but then he acted hastily to leave with the men for his own gain. If Balaam was willing to ignore God's first stipulation of waiting to be called, then it would have been easy for him to ignore God's second instruction of speaking only what the Lord told him.

So often we respond like Balaam. We hastily inquire of the Lord, and, if we think we get a thumbs up, we move headlong after our own gain and not the glory of the Lord. This is what the New Testament says was Balaam's error (2 Peter 2:15-16).

We must inquire of the Lord and then continue to pray throughout every step of the process. I pray it wouldn't take a talking donkey to get us to turn back to inquiring of the Lord and following Him intently.

Discussion Questions

In the New Testament, Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

1. What do you need to go back to the Lord and inquire of Him again?

2. Are you confident you are following all that He has told you to do, or are you running ahead for your own gain?

3. What would it look like in your own life to "wait for the Lord" (Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 40:31)?