“And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.”
Numbers 22:31
Summary
In Numbers chapter 22, the narrative focuses on the Moabite king Balak, who, fearful of the Israelite people encamped nearby, seeks to hire the prophet Balaam to curse them. Balak sends envoys to invite Balaam, offering rewards for his services, but God intervenes, instructing Balaam not to go with them and not to curse the Israelites. Despite the initial refusal, Balak persists, sending more dignitaries and a greater reward. Eventually, Balaam is permitted by God to go with the men, but with a stringent warning to only speak what God tells him. As Balaam rides out on his donkey, a divine encounter occurs where the angel of the Lord blocks his path, visible only to the donkey, leading to a remarkable dialogue where the donkey protests and Balaam strikes the animal. The Lord opens Balaam's eyes to see the angel, leading to a moment of repentance and humility, as Balaam acknowledges his wrongdoing. The chapter concludes with Balaam arriving in Moab, determined to convey only God's message.