Balaam was a prophet, or soothsayer who was called by Balak, king of the Moabites, to travel to Moab and curse the Israelites who had invaded Moab.
Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me
Balaam, the seer, is riding on his she-ass to deliver a paid-for-in-advance imprecation of the Jews. God, who is not too keen on cursing Israel, stations an angel to block his journey. But there’s a catch: only the donkey can see the angel.
Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
The first time, the angel appears with a drawn sword. The animal, intelligently, swerves off the path; Balaam whacks her. The second time, the angel appears in a narrow space between two vineyard walls, mashing Balaam’s foot; Balaam whacks her again. The third time, the angel chooses such a narrow place on the path that the animal’s only option is to lie down; and Balaam whacks her again. Whereupon—here it comes—the she-ass turns to Balaam and speaks
Numbers 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Balaam only says to the donkey, "How dare you mock me! If I had a sword, I’d kill you right here and now"(Numbers 22:28–29). (There is no indication whatsoever here that talking to your ass is abnormal!)
Then—and only then—does "the Lord open Balaam’s eyes . . ."(Numbers 22:31). Balaam has a short conversation with the angel and realizes that his donkey has been way ahead of him all along.
The Parable
This story is about the standard, mythic three confrontations with an invisible angel, and each one is increasingly difficult to ignore. Indeed, the great "seer"is effectively "blind,"while a dumb animal (and she-asses are notoriously dumb) can see that his mission is contrary to God’s plan.
The question now quickly becomes: Can the seer raise himself to the level of a donkey? (And can we?)
Balaam was (1) rerouted, (2) squeezed, and finally, (3) stopped until he gets his eyes opened and see what’s really going on.
The end of the story
Numbers 24:1–3, 5 "Now Balaam, seeing that it pleased the Eternal to bless Israel, did not, as on previous occasions, go in search of omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness. As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him. Taking up his theme, he said: '. . . How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!’"
Balaam’s name and story became infamous, and he is referred to three times in the New Testament.
Peter compares false teachers to Balaam, “who loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15).
Jude echoes this sentiment, associating Balaam with the selling of one’s soul for financial gain (Jude 1:11).
Jesus speaks of Balaam when He warns the church in Pergamum of their sin: “There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14).
Satan’s tactics haven’t changed all that much. If he cannot curse God’s people directly, he will try the back-door approach, and idolatry and sexual immorality are his go-to temptations.
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