The Voice of the Unseeing: How a Donkey Saved Balaam from the Angel’s Sword
The narrative of Balaam and his ass, found in Numbers 22, records one of the most astonishing supernatural events in the Old Testament. It showcases God’s sovereign protection over Israel, utilizing a simple beast of burden to rebuke a renowned, but ultimately corrupt, prophet. We maintain the King James Version (KJV) for all scripture quotations.
I. The Temptation and the Troubled Path
Balak the king of Moab was gripped by fear of the encroaching Israelites and sought to hire the prophet Balaam to curse them. God initially forbade Balaam from going, but after greater temptations of wealth, Balaam pressed the issue. God permitted him to go, but only on the condition that he would speak only the words given by the Lord. However, Balaam’s intent was not pure, and God’s anger was kindled by his journey.
“And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.” (Numbers 22:21-22, KJV)
Balaam, though known as a seer whose “eyes were open,” was spiritually blinded by his greed. He could not see the Angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword, but his humble ass could.
II. The Threefold Obstruction
The faithful ass acted instinctively three times to save her master from the Angel’s sword, a dramatic tension only the animal and the divine messenger perceived:
- The Field: The ass saw the Angel and turned into the field. Balaam, unable to see the cause, smote her to force her back to the road.
- The Vineyard Path: The Angel stood in a narrow path between two walls. The ass, trying to avoid the Angel, pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. He smote her again.
- The Narrow Pass: The Angel moved to a place with no room to turn. The ass, seeing the imminent danger, fell down under Balaam. His rage boiling over, Balaam smote the ass with a staff.
III. The Mouth of the Ass is Opened
In a unique miracle that turned the tables on the prophet, God intervened to give the creature a voice:
“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? (Numbers 22:28, KJV)
Balaam, lost in his fury, engages the animal in rational dialogue, proving just how deeply his anger and covetousness had corrupted his perception:
“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.” (Numbers 22:30, KJV)
IV. The Eyes of the Seer are Opened
Only after being rebuked by his own animal did the Lord open Balaam’s eyes to see the reality his ass had already perceived:
“Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.” (Numbers 22:31, KJV)
The Angel confirmed that the ass was the instrument of his preservation: “Unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” (Numbers 22:33, KJV). Balaam was allowed to proceed only under the strictest order to speak only the word of the Lord, resulting in the famous, powerful blessings upon Israel.
The Return Question: Sight, Blindness, and the Day of the Lord
The story of Balaam’s blindness to the immediate, tangible danger—visible only to his beast—provides a striking commentary on the spiritual blindness that often precedes God’s judgment.
The Return Question is: How does the Lord’s act of opening Balaam’s eyes only after a catastrophic warning, and the subsequent change of course, mirror the sudden, undeniable revelation that will accompany the Lord’s return on the Day of the Lord?
| Prophetic Parallel | The Talking Ass Incident (Numbers 22) | The Lord’s Return (The Day of the Lord) |
| Spiritual Blindness | Balaam, the seer, could not see the imminent danger of the Angel of the LORD because his vision was clouded by greed and rebellion (2 Peter 2:15-16). | Humanity, blinded by sin and the god of this world, often fails to perceive the reality of God’s impending judgment and the danger of their perverse ways. |
| The Messenger | The message of warning came from the most unlikely, humble, and previously mute source—the ass. | God frequently uses the simple, the foolish, and the weak things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). The gospel message itself is a “stumblingblock” to the unseeing. |
| The Revelation | The Lord opened the ass’s mouth and opened Balaam’s eyes, turning confusion into clear sight. | The Return of the Lord will be an ultimate, undeniable, and instantaneous global revelation. Every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). The blindness will be lifted by a sovereign, overwhelming display of glory. |
The ultimate return of Christ will serve as the final, complete opening of eyes, making the spiritual reality—both the danger of sin and the glory of God’s sovereignty—unmistakable to all. It will be the end of all spiritual guesswork and rebellion.