March 13th | Numbers 22

David Cox • March 13, 2025

Family Worship

SETTING THE SCENE

A foreign king of Moab named Balak is fearful of the Israelites. He calls on a prophet named Balaam to come and curse Israel so the king of Moab might have victory over them. God speaks to Balaam and commands him to go with the King of Moab and to ONLY speak what God tells him to speak.

However, as Balaam goes out on his journey to see the king of Moab, his intentions are perverse (v.32). He doesn’t plan to listen only to the word of the Lord but to selfishly seek riches from the King of Moab in exchange for “cursing” the Israelites.

God stops Balaam’s donkey three times with the Angel of the Lord. Balaam cannot see the Angel but the donkey can. Finally, the Angel of the Lord reveals himself to Balaam and Balaam agrees to speak only the true word of the Lord to the King of Moab. This should be a reminder to search for God’s truth and seek to act and speak according to God’s plans and not our own.

READ & ASK

Numbers 22:22-27. What was Balaam’s attitude toward the donkey? Why was he so angry? (He was intent on pursuing his own desires instead of the Lord. HIs anger was kindled because he was only focused on himself and therefore, could not see the Angel of the Lord clearly in front of him).

Numbers 22:28-30. What did God allow the donkey to do? What does the donkey say? (The donkey speaks and Balaam is still incensed with him because he is blinded by his own sin to pursue riches instead of God’s truth).

Numbers 22:31-35. What did the Angel of the Lord do for Balaam? What was Balaam’s response? (The Angel opened the eyes of Balaam and seeing clearly he humbled himself and repented).

How does sin distort how we see things today? How can we see more clearly?