Story of the Month

Balaam - Part 1

Numbers 22 - 24

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The children of Israel wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. Near the end of this time they came to the valley of Moab, next to the Jordan River, across from Jericho. The king of Moab was a man by the name of Balak. He was afraid when he saw the massive number of people in his valley, and when he realized what these people had done to the other kings throughout the wilderness. He called his counselors, and they talked about this situation and about what they could do, because these people were so mighty. They decided to send a delegation to the East, next to the Euphrates River – to a man by the name of Balaam. They said, whomever Balaam curses, they are cursed, and whomever he blesses, they are blessed. So the delegation took Balak’s message and some gifts, and started out on their journey.

When they arrived at Balaam’s house, they said, “King Balak of Moab has sent these gifts to you. He says, ‘Please come quickly. A mighty group of people has come out of Egypt, and they are now in our valley. They are stronger than we are. I want you to curse them. Once you curse them, I will be able to defeat them and send them away.’ ”

Balaam said, “I can only say what the Lord tells me to say. So stay the night and possibly God will speak to me and tell me what I am to do.” So the men stayed the night.

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men staying with you?”

Balaam said, “Oh, they are from Balak, the king of Moab. He said that this large number of people have come up out of Egypt, and he wants me to go and curse them so he can have victory over them.”

The Lord said, “No, you are not to go with these people. You are not to curse the people who came out of Egypt, because they are blessed.” The next morning Balaam sent the delegation away, telling them that God was not letting him go with them.

When they came back to King Balak, they said, “He will not come.” Balak couldn’t understand this, so he got bigger gifts and sent them with a more important delegation. He said, “Tell him to come!”

When they got to Balaam, they said, “King Balak has said, ‘Don’t let anything stop you from coming to me. If you will curse these people, I will give you great rewards. I will make you rich.’”

Balaam said, “Even if the king would fill my house with gold and silver, I can only say what the Lord tells me to say. Still, stay the night. I will see if the Lord says something different.”

That night the Lord came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come back to you a second time, you may go with them. But be careful, only say what I tell you to say.”

So the next morning Balaam saddled his donkey, took his servants with him, and started on the journey going towards Moab. As he travelled along, the Angel of the Lord stood in the path and drew his sword to kill Balaam. The donkey looked up and saw the Angel with the sword, but Balaam couldn’t see him. The donkey turned and went into a field. Balaam beat the donkey and got her back up on the path.

The angel went farther ahead to a place where the path went through a vineyard and had a wall on each side. Again he drew his sword. As before, Balaam could not see the angel, but the donkey looked up and saw him, and she couldn’t go into the field, so she pushed up against the wall, trapping Balaam’s foot between her and the wall. Again Balaam beat the donkey, and made her go.

The Angel went father down the path to a very narrow place and drew the sword. Again Balaam could not see the Angel, but the donkey looked up and saw him. She did the only thing she could so. She crouched down, and Balaam became angry. He took a stick, and started beating the donkey.

Then God allowed the donkey to talk. “Why have you beaten me three times?

Balaam said, “Because you have humiliated me in front of others. If this were a sword instead of a stick, I would kill you right here on the spot!”

The donkey said, “Haven’t I served you ever since you were born? Have I ever done this before?”

Balaam said, “No, you never have.”

With that his eyes were opened and he saw the Angel. He bowed down, and the Angel said, “Why have you beat your donkey three times? I was angry with you and I was going to kill you and let her live because of what you’re about to do in Moab.”

Balaam said, “If you don’t want me to go to Moab, I will turn and I will go back to my home.”

The angel said, “No, you may go, but be careful. Only say the words that I give you to say.”

And with that Balaam went on to Moab.

To watch part 2, and to sign up for John's new weekly podcast, go to BibleTelling.org

Don’t forget to check out our ‘Tips for Telling’ this month as well

Check out the past five months of stories and tips