The story of Balaam, the famed gentile seer hired to curse Israel, is complex and elusive. What kind of man is Balaam—a villain, a saint, or something in between? And why does he endure such a savage critique in the episode with the donkey? A subtle reading indicates deep character flaws in Balaam, but that doesn't change the fact that we can learn an important lesson from him: you do not need to be perfect in order to be God's vessel.