What Role Does the Story of Balaam and the Donkey Play in the Book of Numbers?
1. The Context of Balaam and the Donkey in Numbers
The story of Balaam and the donkey (Numbers 22–24) takes place as Israel camped on the plains of Moab, preparing to enter the Promised Land. After victories over Sihon and Og (Num. 21), Israel’s presence terrified the Moabites. Balak, king of Moab, feared that Israel would overwhelm his people, so he hired Balaam, a renowned pagan diviner, to curse Israel (Num. 22:5–6).
The situation highlights the tension between God’s promises to bless Abraham’s descendants and the opposition of the nations who stood in the way. Israel’s future in the land seemed threatened by spiritual opposition, but God would again show that no curse could overturn his covenant blessings.
2. The Donkey as God’s Instrument of Revelation
On Balaam’s journey to Moab, God revealed his sovereignty in a striking and ironic way. The angel of the Lord blocked Balaam’s path three times, but only the donkey saw the angel (Num. 22:23–27). When Balaam beat the animal, God opened the donkey’s mouth, and it rebuked the prophet: “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (Num. 22:28).
This moment shows the reversal of expectations. The seer, who was supposed to perceive spiritual realities, was blind, while the donkey saw clearly. The prophet, skilled in words, was silenced and rebuked by an animal. The Bible uses this humor and irony to underscore God’s authority over human pride. Just as the donkey spoke what God allowed, so Balaam himself would speak only the words God put in his mouth (Num. 22:38).
3. The Blessings of Balaam over Israel
Although Balak intended Balaam to curse Israel, God used him to bless. On four occasions Balaam opened his mouth, and instead of curses came blessings that reaffirmed God’s promises to Abraham. Balaam declared: “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Num. 23:8).
These blessings emphasized Israel’s uniqueness among the nations, their protection under God, and their future triumph. Most strikingly, Balaam prophesied: “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). This messianic prophecy pointed forward to the reign of Christ, the promised Son of David, whose kingdom would bring blessing to all nations.
Thus, Balaam’s oracles became a vehicle for God’s redemptive plan, showing that even pagan prophets are subject to his will.
4. The Conflict Between God’s Faithfulness and Israel’s Rebellion
The story of Balaam concludes not with triumph but with tragedy. Immediately after Balaam’s blessings, Israel fell into sin through sexual immorality and idolatry with the Moabites (Num. 25:1–3). Later passages indicate Balaam himself advised Balak to seduce Israel into compromise (Num. 31:16; Rev. 2:14).
This tension is central to the theology of Numbers: God remains faithful to his covenant promises, but Israel repeatedly rebels. The juxtaposition of Balaam’s blessings with Israel’s failure highlights the contrast between God’s unwavering faithfulness and the people’s recurring disobedience.
5. The Theological Message of Balaam’s Donkey
The donkey’s role is not incidental; it reinforces the key message of Numbers. God opens the eyes of the humble while blinding the proud. Balaam, though a prophet, could not perceive the angel until God opened his eyes (Num. 22:31). This theme resonates with later biblical teaching: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Prov. 3:34; Jas. 4:6).
The donkey also symbolizes God’s ability to use the weak and unexpected to accomplish his purposes. Just as the Lord once used a shepherd like Moses to confront Pharaoh, so he used a donkey to rebuke a wayward prophet. The Bible continually reminds us that salvation depends not on human wisdom but on God’s power (1 Cor. 1:27–29).
6. The Story of Balaam in Light of the Gospel
The New Testament reflects deeply on the Balaam account. Peter warns of “the way of Balaam, who loved gain from wrongdoing” (2 Pet. 2:15), and Jude condemns those who “abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error” (Jude 11). Revelation 2:14 criticizes those in the church who hold to Balaam’s teaching, which led Israel into idolatry.
At the same time, the blessings Balaam proclaimed find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The promised “star” rising from Jacob (Num. 24:17) is echoed in the star of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:2) and fulfilled in Jesus, the true King who brings blessing to all nations (Rev. 22:16).
Thus, Balaam’s story not only warns against greed and compromise but also points forward to the Gospel, where God turns curses into blessings through the cross of Christ (Gal. 3:13–14).
7. The Role of Balaam and the Donkey for God’s People Today
For believers today, the story of Balaam and the donkey holds enduring lessons. First, it warns against allowing greed, compromise, or fear of the nations to lead us away from faithfulness to God. Second, it assures us that God’s promises cannot be overturned. Even the most determined enemies cannot curse those whom God has blessed in Christ (Rom. 8:31–39).
Finally, it reminds us of God’s power to use unexpected instruments—whether a donkey in the wilderness or the cross of Christ—to bring salvation. Where Israel faltered and Balaam failed, Jesus remained faithful. In him, the blessings of Abraham are secured for all who believe.
Conclusion
The story of Balaam and the donkey in the book of Numbers reveals the sovereignty of God, the surety of his covenant promises, and the danger of rebellion. While Balak sought to curse Israel, God transformed curses into blessings. While Balaam’s eyes were blind, his donkey saw the angel of the Lord. While Israel fell into sin, God’s promises endured.
In the end, the narrative points to the greater blessing fulfilled in Christ, the promised star from Jacob. Through him, God secures victory for his people and ensures that no weapon formed against them will prevail.
Bible Verses about Balaam and the Donkey
Numbers 22:28 – “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?’”
Numbers 22:31 – “Then 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.”
Numbers 23:8 – “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?”
Numbers 23:19 – “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.”
Numbers 24:17 – “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 23:5 – “The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.”
Joshua 24:9–10 – “Balak the son of Zippor… arose and fought against Israel. And I delivered you out of his hand.”
2 Peter 2:15 – “Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam… who loved gain from wrongdoing.”
Jude 11 – “Woe to them! For they… abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error.”
Revelation 2:14 – “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel.”
