Enemies Seek to do You Harm

Balaam and the Ass - Rembrandt

Balaam was a seer, oracle, or prophet from antiquity. His story is told in the book of numbers beginning in Chapter 22. He was summoned by the Balak, the king of Moab. Balak was afraid of the Hebrew people that had been wandering in the desert for a generation ever since they left Egypt. He was afraid that the Hebrew people would overrun his kingdom. So as a precaution he summoned a wise and powerful seer, Balaam to curse the Hebrew people. 

Balak sent an envoy to Balaam with money and powerful people to pursuade him to come and curse the Israelites. The same night that the envoy arrived Balaam received a message from God. God told Balaam not to go. “Don’t do it.” So the next morning Balaam sent the envoy back to King Balak empty handed. 

King Balak was angered and sent a larger envoy with more important people and more treasure to entice and persuade Balaam. Balaam told them on their arrival that even if the king should offer him all of his storehouses filled with gold and silver Balaam could not act against the will of God. But that that night God told Balaam to go with the envoy, but to only speak the words that God directed him. 

You Don’t Do What They Want You to Do

Balaam and the Angel - Gustav Jäger

Balaam set out from his home to the King of Moab riding on his donkey with two servants walking alongside. In the middle of the road stood an angel with a sword, but Balaam couldn’t see the angel--only his donkey could. So the donkey walked off the side of the road into a field. Balaam got angry at his donkey and hit it. Later, the angel stood again in their path ready to strike Balaam. The donkey moved out of the way but Balaam’s foot was scratched next to a stone wall. So he beat the donkey again. A third time the angel blocked their path with no escape. So the donkey laid down. Balaam beat the donkey a third time. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. She said, “Why are you beating me? Haven’t I carried you around faithfully all these years?”

Then Balaam’s eyes were opened so that he could see the angel. The angel reprimanded Balaam for beating the donkey who was only trying to protect him. Balaam repented from his sin. He had sought to hurt the donkey, because the donkey wasn’t doing what he wanted. Balak wanted to hurt the Israelite people because they would not behave as he wished.  With the fear of God Balaam continued his journey.

God Blesses and Won’t Curse

When Balaam arrives to King Balak he is led to a high place. Seven altars are built where he makes offerings to the Lord. The moment comes for him to curse the Israelitse. But instead of a curse he utters a blessing. King Balak is angry again. They try another location, but only a blessing is given, and finally a third location. But it doesn’t matter where they go. God will only permit Balaam to give a blessing:

“As I see him from the top of the rocks, And