Balaam, like many of us, knew the Lord’s will. God told him he should not go with the men who had come from the king of Moab (Numbers 22:1-12). He knew he “could not go beyond the word of the Lord.” Yet, he asked again (Numbers 22:13-19).
Balaam violated God’s will because of greed. Balak, king of Moab, sent men with the fee for a word from God. He sent princes of greater stature offering to honor him greatly. He even seemed to be offended because Balaam might have thought he could not pay him enough (Numbers 22:7, 15-17, 37-40). Peter and Jude tell us of Balaam’s greed (2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11). He aroused God’s anger because he went (Numbers 22:22). God’s permission to go in verse 20 likely was like his allowing the people to have a king though it was not his desire (1 Samuel 8).
Balaam tempted God’s people, as Jesus explained in his letter to the church in Pergamos (Revelation 2:14). He taught the king of Moab to get the women to lead them into immorality, which involved the worship of idols. That temptation resulted in the deaths of 24,000 Israelites (Numbers 25:1-9).
Balaam was punished for his sin. His was a presumptuous sin (Numbers 15:30-31). The women of Moab caused God’s people to sin (Numbers 31:16). The children of Israel killed him along with the kings of Midian (Numbers 31:8).
Balaam should have listened to his donkey. The donkey feared the Lord (Numbers 22:22-23, 24-25, 26-27). The donkey was loyal and faithful in service to Balaam, even though mistreated (Numbers 22:28-30). The donkey helped his master see his sin (Numbers 22:31-35).
We would do well to learn the lessons taught by a talking donkey.
Gary C. Hampton