Balaam's Donkey Sees the Angel of the LORD

Numbers 22:21-34, Tells of Balaam's donkey, "seeing the angel of the LORD blocking the road and Balaam did not see the angel of the LORD's threat of death. When the donkey turned off the road into a field to avoid the angel of the LORD, Balaam began to beat her (the donkey).

The angel of the LORD moved further to block their way down a path that led between two vineyards with walls. When the donkey again saw the angel of the LORD (which Balaam couldn't see), she pressed against the wall, crushing Balaam's foot. So he beat her again!

The angel of the LORD moved to a narrow place where there was no room to turn around. When the donkey again saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. He was so angry he began to beat her with his staff.

Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth (to talk). She said, 'What have I done for you to beat me these three times?' (I don't know about you, but I would have been shocked to have a donkey talking yo me!) 

But, in his anger, Balaam answered, 'You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you right now!' Then the angel of the LORD shows himself to Balaam!

The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam to see the angel of the LORD! Balaam went face down on the ground! The angel of the LORD said, 'Do you know I would have killed you if your donkey had not turned you away from me these three times, yet I would have spared her.' Balaam admitted to the angel of the LORD that he had sinned (against the animal by beating her). For she had indeed saved his life three times!"

Matthew Henry's Commentary further shares, "GOD's holy angels are at war with those whom GOD is angry, they (angels) are the ministers of His justice. After the third beating, the LORD opened the donkey's mouth to speak. That was a miracle quite above the power of nature and wrought by the power of GOD! II Peter 2:16 shares, 'Christ has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.' By a 'dumb' donkey GOD rebukes the madness of Balaam. (Of course we shouldn't be surprised, for Psalm 145:21 shares that "All creatures will praise His, GOD's, Holy Name forever and ever!" I believe that will be by vocal words from them!) 

If GOD would not suffer the donkey to be wronged (by Balaam) how much more if one commits wrongs against another human! Our Righteous GOD will not accept the abuse of the meanest upon the weak, whether animal or man. Balaam's brutish, head-strong passion so blinded him, he didn't consider the strangeness of the donkey talking to him, even more so his answering the donkey's question!!

The dominion GOD has given to man over the creatures of the earth is the reason we should not abuse them. They are inferior to us and we should be thankful to GOD and care for them, not abuse them. When animals depart from obedience to us, we should immediately inquire of ourselves of what have we done to have them act in disobedience. When our eyes are opened (as was Balaam's) we shall see the danger we are in when we sin."

If you are not a believer in Christ Jesus' salvation for you, you won't have the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If you have His salvation, follow His Holy Spirit's prompting your life to become more like Christ and less like fallen man.