Balaam’s story is told in Numbers 22:1-24:25
Balaam: A Prophet, a Donkey, and a Warning from God
Have you ever heard of a talking donkey in the Bible? Sounds like something out of a fairy tale, right? But it’s actually part of the true and surprising story of Balaam, a man in the Old Testament who had spiritual insight—but also made some serious mistakes.
Let’s take a closer look at who Balaam was, what happened with the donkey, and what we can learn from his life today.
Who Was Balaam?
Balaam was known as a prophet or spiritual man who lived outside of Israel. Even though he wasn’t part of God’s chosen people, he had some knowledge of God and could receive messages from Him.
During the time when the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, they camped near a place called Moab. The king of Moab, Balak, saw how large the Israelite group was and got scared. He wanted to stop them, so he sent messengers to Balaam with a strange request: “Come and curse these people for me.”
Balak believed that if Balaam cursed the Israelites, he might be able to defeat them.
The Story of Balaam and the Talking Donkey
When the messengers first came to Balaam, he asked God what to do. God told him not to go with them and not to curse Israel, because they were blessed.
But when the king sent more important messengers and offered more money, Balaam seemed interested. He asked again, and this time, God allowed him to go—but with a warning: “Only say what I tell you.”
As Balaam set out on his journey, God became angry because Balaam’s heart was not right. Balaam may have been obeying on the outside, but on the inside, he wanted the reward.
Then came the amazing part.
As Balaam rode his donkey, an angel of the Lord stood in the path—but Balaam couldn’t see it. The donkey could, and it tried to avoid the angel three times. Each time, Balaam beat the donkey, confused and angry.
Finally, God did something amazing: He opened the donkey’s mouth, and the donkey spoke!
“What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” the donkey asked.
Right after that, God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing in front of him. The angel told Balaam that the donkey had saved his life by stopping.
This was God’s way of getting Balaam’s attention—and reminding him that this mission wasn’t about personal gain, but about doing exactly what God said.
Balaam’s Mixed Legacy
Even though Balaam went on to bless Israel (instead of cursing them, like the king wanted), his story doesn’t end well.
Later in the Bible, we learn that Balaam encouraged the Israelites to sin, by tempting them to worship idols and fall into bad behavior (Numbers 31:16). In the New Testament, Balaam is used as an example of someone who knew the right way, but chose greed and disobedience instead (Revelation 2:14).
So while Balaam had a gift and even heard from God, he let his desire for reward and recognition lead him in the wrong direction.
What Can We Learn from Balaam?
Balaam’s story is both fascinating and a little sad. But it teaches us some valuable lessons:
- God can use anyone—or anything—for His purposes. If God can speak through a donkey, He can work through us too!
- Obedience matters more than talent. Balaam had a gift, but he didn’t always use it in the right way.
- Greed and pride can pull us away from God. Just like Balaam, we need to check our hearts and make sure we’re not chasing after selfish things.
- Listen carefully to God—and don’t twist His words. True faith means following God fully, not just when it’s convenient or profitable.
Final Thoughts
Balaam had a chance to do great things for God, but his love for rewards and attention led him in the wrong direction. His story reminds us that it’s not enough to hear God’s voice—we must also obey it with a sincere heart.
Reflection Question:
Is there an area in your life where you might be trying to follow God outwardly—but inside, your heart is going a different direction?
Take time today to ask God for a clean heart and the courage to follow Him fully—just like He wants.