Numbers 22:1-35

The Israelites camped in the valley of Moab, next
to the Jordan River across from Jericho.
The king of Moab was a man named Balak.
He was terrified when he saw the great mass of
people in his valley. He had heard what they’d
done to other kings. He said to the Midianites,
“These people are more powerful than us. I’m
afraid they’ll totally destroy us.”
Together, the two nations decided to send
for Balaam, a prophet who lived in the east next
to the Euphrates River. They sent gifts with a
message, “Come quickly. A huge mass of people
has come out of Egypt, and they’re now in our
valley. They’re stronger than us, so we want you
to curse them so we can defeat them and send
them away. We know you’re a prophet, and
whoever you curse is cursed, and whoever you
bless is blessed.”
Balaam said, “Stay the night. In the morning
I’ll tell you what God told me to do.”
During the night, God said to Balaam, “Who
are these men staying with you?”
“They’re from the king of Moab. He says there
are a large mass of people come out of Egypt,
and he wants me to go and curse them.”
The Lord said, “No, you’re not to go with
them. You’re not to curse those people, because
they’re blessed.”
The next morning, Balaam told the delegation,
“Go back to your king. The Lord won’t let me go
with you.”
The delegation went back and gave Balak this
message. The king then sent a delegation of more
important people. Through them he said, “Don’t
let anything stop you from coming to me. If you’ll
curse these people, I’ll make you a rich man.”
Balaam said, “If the king filled my house with
gold, I can only say what the Lord tells me to
say. Still, stay the night. I’ll see if the Lord says
something different.”
That night, the Lord said to Balaam, “Since
these men have come 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 two servants, and
started on his journey to Moab.
As he traveled along, the Angel of the Lord
stood in his path with a sword in his hand. The
donkey looked up and saw the angel, so she
turned and went into a field. Balaam beat her
until she got back on the path.
The angel went down the path and stood at a
place where there was a wall on both sides. The
donkey looked up and saw the angel with his
sword drawn. She pushed up against the wall,
trapping Balaam’s foot. He beat her again.
The angel went down the path, but this time
he stood in a place where there was no room on
either side. The donkey looked up and saw the
angel, so she crouched down beneath Balaam.
Balaam flew into a rage. He took a stick
and started beating his donkey. With that, God
allowed the donkey to talk. She said, “Why have
you beaten me three times?”
Balaam yelled at her. “Because you’ve made
me look like a fool. If this was a sword instead of
a stick, I’d 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.”
Suddenly, his eyes were opened and he saw
the Angel of the Lord standing in the path with his
sword drawn. Balaam bowed down before him.
The angel said, “You have beaten your donkey
three times. Yet, if it hadn’t been for her, I would
have killed you and let her live.”
Balaam said, “If you don’t want me to go to
Moab, I’ll turn around and go home.”
The angel said, “No, you may go. But be
careful. Only say the words I give you to say.”
And with that, Balaam went on to Moab.
© God Child