Numbers 22 – 24
Verse 22:28 is one of the oddest stories I think there is in the Bible:
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
The Lord speaks to people in many ways, but through a donkey is just funny. My question is why in verse 22:20 God says go with the men and then in verse 22:22 he was angry about Balaam going. What’s really going on here? I have explored many explanations from God being upset about the first time to this was more satire since Balaam was a popular “diviner” and not Jewish, so therefore the “hearing” of God was false. I honestly am not 100% sure and searching other translations did not help, so I wonder if God changed his mind, was holding a grudge, Balaam did something wrong that was not recorded or it is really Jewish satire?
Either way God allowing a donkey to speak is just funny. Modern days this becomes easier to believe since from the days of Mr. Ed we have had talking animals. With computers their lips actually move with the words, not just having the animal eat peanut butter with a voice over to seem like they are talking. I still find myself asking many horses if they can talk!
Verse 24:10 is the response to Balaam’s three Oracles to Balak:
And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.
You read on the story and see that Balaam is either realizing his “divining” skills are no match for God and is in turn blessing Israel or Balaam is truly speaking with God. I just read this as truth and God actually did speak to Balaam. I think there are missing details on why God was angry in verse 22:22 so this story works. I find it interesting that Balaam hit the donkey three times before he saw the angel and had to tell Balak three times before he got the message. Interesting the Balak did not strike Balaam until the third “oracle” was delivered.
Verse 24:17 is part of Balaam’s final Oracle:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
So the final Oracle has God ending Balak’s kingdom through the people Balak wanted to curse. Ironic, isn’t it? Here this king tries to change the direction of the Israelites and ends up reversing the curse on himself and his nation. I am not sure why this story was included in the Bible, but it was important enough to be part of the Torah and Moses’ original writings to Israel. It is an interesting story since it is one of the first times that God works through someone who is not an Israelite.