OCTOBER 10, 2025
Numbers 22:31-41 (HCSB)
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in His hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground. 32 The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”
34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back.” 35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” 38 Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people’s camp.
Nathan Cripe
God had mercy on Balaam, despite his stubborn and greedy heart, and He provided deliverance from punishment through a donkey, giving Balaam a chance to repent. The Angel of the Lord said, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.” Webster’s dictionary defines ‘perverse’ as “obstinate in opposing what is right.” Balaam responded by admitting that he sinned by beating the donkey, but he completely ignored the fact that the Lord was blocking his path because of his ‘perverse’ intentions, then he went on to say, “if it displeases you, I’ll turn back.” What purpose would there have been for him to continue to go see Balak if he wasn’t still intending to try and curse the Israelites for personal gain? He was still asking God to allow his sin. His heart wasn’t truly humble and repentant. In verse 41, Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal to get a better view of the Israelites. That seems like a place I’d want to steer clear of, but sin takes us where we never intended if we let it have a foothold instead of holding tightly to God’s ways.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in His hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground. 32 The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”
34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back.” 35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” 38 Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people’s camp.
Nathan Cripe
God had mercy on Balaam, despite his stubborn and greedy heart, and He provided deliverance from punishment through a donkey, giving Balaam a chance to repent. The Angel of the Lord said, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.” Webster’s dictionary defines ‘perverse’ as “obstinate in opposing what is right.” Balaam responded by admitting that he sinned by beating the donkey, but he completely ignored the fact that the Lord was blocking his path because of his ‘perverse’ intentions, then he went on to say, “if it displeases you, I’ll turn back.” What purpose would there have been for him to continue to go see Balak if he wasn’t still intending to try and curse the Israelites for personal gain? He was still asking God to allow his sin. His heart wasn’t truly humble and repentant. In verse 41, Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal to get a better view of the Israelites. That seems like a place I’d want to steer clear of, but sin takes us where we never intended if we let it have a foothold instead of holding tightly to God’s ways.
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