Balaam & the Talking Donkey. 🫏

It’s my belief that some animals (probably more than we realize) are capable of thought and communication. Not at the level of a human adult but more like the level of a small child.

My dog Walter knew what several words meant: walk, treat, kitty… 😏 🐩

You might remember Koko the gorilla who spoke using sign language.

There are several channels on YouTube with pets that speak using buttons. A couple of my personal favorites are Billie the Cat (who recently passed away) 😿 and Bunny the dog. They’re both part of a study being done to determine how much animals can communicate.

Here’s Bunny getting help from his owner to remove a “stranger” from his paw.

Billi, (who was typically grumpy about most things), was expressing her appreciation in this clip:

I find it fascinating that the text says “the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey,” as if that was the only impediment. Koko, Bunny, and Billi could communicate; just not with speech. Their mouths are not “opened.”

And then Balaam has a whole conversation with his talking donkey- which has always cracked me up.

If you were raised in Sunday school, this is a fun story and you believe it’s true. I’m quite certain it actually happened.

For non-Christians or people who come into the kingdom as adults, this is a very hard pill to swallow. This story is why some people rant about the Bible being a book of fairy stories and legends. From their perspective, Balaam’s talking donkey is no different than talking animals in your typical folktale. Christians should stop and think about what a stupendous thing we’re asking people to believe. That’s why the Holy Spirit must work in their hearts.

But the talking donkey is the part everyone knows about. Let’s explore a couple things that often get overlooked.

There’s an extra-biblical story that Balaam and Moses have history and met in Egypt. And that Balaam was one of Pharaoh’s magicians or something. No idea if there is a scrap of truth to any of it. I doubt it.

What we can gather from the text is that Balaam was famous. Balak, king of Moab knows about him. Moab is a teeny kingdom tucked up beside the south end of the Jordan River. Balaam is all the way over near the Euphrates River. They’re not neighbors. And Balaam didn’t have a Facebook profile. So he must have quite a reputation.

In the letter Balak sends to ask Balaam to come curse Israel he says:

“…for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sounds a lot like what God said to Abram:

“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

I think we’re meant to connect those dots. Balaam has a reputation for doing something that is rather God-like.

Also…Balaam has conversations with Yahweh. Pause and let that sink in.

He even calls Yahweh “my God” in verse 18.

🤯

Who is this guy?

I’ve always been puzzled why the Lord would tell him he could go in the morning then get mad at him for going. A clue might be this verse:

“Then the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was reckless and contrary to me.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭32‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The Hebrew word translated reckless means to rush headlong.

Ever seen kids so excited to do something that they don’t wait for instructions? They just jump in without any idea what they’re supposed to be doing. I suspect that’s what Balaam was doing.

He offers to go back home but the Lord tells him to go ahead but only to speak as he is instructed.

Ya gotta wait for the instructions!

Balak, king of Moab, takes Balaam to three different locations- mountain tops – where he can get a good view of part of the camp of Israel. It’s only part because remember, there’s a group here larger than the population of Kansas City. You can’t see all of a large metropolitan city from one location.

But there may be something else at play here. It’s the idea of geographically-connected gods. As far as King Balak is concerned, Yahweh is just another deity. He just happens to be in charge of Israel. When Balaam can’t help but bless Israel on one mountain peak, Balak wants to try another mountain. Maybe that mountain will be in another God’s territory who will allow Balaam to curse Israel. What’s more, these mountain peaks are in Moab’s territory. If what they believe is true, the Moabite god, Chemosh should have the final word on what is allowed on his mountain peaks.

Only- Chemosh is powerless to stop Yahweh from blessing His people. Every mountain peak is really the Lord’s- though other lesser spiritual beings may try to claim control of this or that location.

Balaam confirms this with his oracle:

“For there is no magic curse against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done!”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The fallen realm may try but they cannot succeed against the Lord’s people.

In the first two attempts, Balaam delivers words of blessing. They’re good but rather generic. The third and final attempt – it’s a different thing altogether. And it’s coming in chapter 24.

It’s a prophecy about Jesus and the future of several nations, (from a sketchy prophet). And… they’re accurate.