A Prophet's Greed Blinds His Eyes
Balaam was a prophet for hire. The king of Moab offered him riches to curse Israel. God told Balaam not to go. But when the offer increased, Balaam saddled his donkey and set out anyway.
The Donkey Sees Divine Danger
Three times on the road, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord blocking the path with a drawn sword. Three times the donkey turned aside or stopped, trying to save her master's life.
Balaam didn't see the angel. He only saw his donkey disobeying. He beat her each time with his staff.
When God Opens Eyes
Then God opened the donkey's mouth. "What have I done to you," the donkey said, "that you have beaten me these three times?"
Balaam argued with his donkey. Then God opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel with the sword.
"If she had not turned away," the angel said, "I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
Humble Creatures See God's Truth
A beast of burden saw what a prophet couldn't. An animal recognized divine danger while a man blinded by greed kept walking toward destruction.
Balaam continued his journey but could not curse what God had blessed. He spoke prophecies of Israel's future glory instead.
God can use any creature to accomplish His purposes. Sometimes the humble donkey sees more clearly than the honored prophet.
