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| Rembrandt's sketch of Old Testament story of Balaam, his talking donkey & the destroying angel Numbers 22-23, 31 |
Adapted from Scripture Stories (PBIC0358) (Num. 22–23, Num. 31)
When the children of Israel
neared the promised land, the Lord commanded them to conquer several kingdoms.
As a result, the people living in the promised land greatly feared the
Israelites, especially the Moabites. Balak, the Moabite king, knew that a man
named Balaam was a prophet, and the king hoped that Balaam might use his power
to curse the Israelites.
Balak sent his elders and princes to
Balaam with gifts and treasures to pay for the cursing of Israel. The gifts
were enticing, and Balaam wanted them, but he knew that he must pray for
Heavenly Father’s guidance.
In answer to Balaam’s prayer the
Lord said, “Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”
The next morning Balaam refused to
curse Israel and sent the Moabites away. But King Balak would not give up. He
sent more princes to Balaam. This time he promised Balaam more than just
riches: “Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
“For I will promote thee unto very
great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me.”
But Balaam refused again, saying,
“If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I [could] not go
beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.”
However, Balaam did invite the
Moabites to stay with him that night. Excited by the promise of riches and
power, Balaam secretly hoped the Lord would change His mind and permit him to
go to Balak.
After much pleading with the Lord,
Balaam was told that if the Moabites asked him again to go to Moab, he was to
go. But even then he was to do only as the Lord directed him. Balaam was so
anxious to go that he arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and set out
with the princes of Moab.
The Lord was angry with Balaam for
his disobedience. He sent an angel with a sword to stand before Balaam in the
road. The donkey saw the angel and stopped, but Balaam could not see him and
did not understand why the donkey had stopped. Balaam hit the donkey and urged
it on. The donkey went only a short distance and saw the angel standing in the
road between two walls. Because there was no room to turn aside, the donkey
turned into the wall and Balaam’s foot was crushed. Still unable to see the
angel himself, Balaam angrily hit the donkey again. Farther down the road the
angel again appeared before them at a narrow part of the path. The donkey could
not turn in any direction, so it fell to the ground. Balaam was very angry
indeed and hit the donkey with his staff.
Then the Lord caused the donkey to
speak: “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three
times?”
Balaam angrily answered, “Because
thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I
kill thee.”
The donkey responded, “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?”
“Nay,” Balaam replied.
Then the Lord allowed Balaam to see
the angel in the road. Balaam finally understood his donkey’s behavior.
Ashamed, he bowed his head and fell to the ground. The angel rebuked him,
explained that the donkey had saved his life, and counseled him to obey God’s
words. Balaam admitted, “I have sinned.”
The angel told him: “Go with the
men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee … thou shalt speak.” Balaam
went on to Moab, where Balak continued to coax and promise him great wealth and
power if he would curse Israel, but Balaam refused. However, because Balaam
wanted the approval of the Moabites, he told them other ways they could harm
the Israelites. Some time later Balaam was killed by the Israelites.
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