February 27 Daily Devotional

Numbers 22

After the children of Israel had taken possession of the land of the Amorites, they went and pitched their tents in the plains of Moab east of Jericho. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, saw the mighty host of Israel, his heart was filled with alarm and fear. So he sent messengers to Balaam, a wise man in Mesopotamia—people from far and near came to seek his advice and help—with the request, “Come … curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me.” Rich rewards were offered to Balaam. But God said to Balaam, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.” The messengers reported to Balak.

Then Balak sent yet more honorable princes and greater gifts to persuade Balaam to come. At the arrival of these men Balaam said, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.” He knew God would not permit him to curse Israel, yet looking at the rich reward he desired very much to go. Finally God said to him, “Go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.”

Balaam rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. But God’s anger was kindled because he went; for he loved the wages of unrighteousness. And the angel of the Lord placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord with his sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of the way. Then Balaam struck the ass,. to turn her into the way. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on each side. When the ass saw the angel she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he struck her again. Then the angel went on and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or the left. When the ass saw the angel she fell down on her knees. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, so that he smote the animal with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Balaam replied, “Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way, with his sword in his hand.

And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.” Then Balaam said, “I have sinned … if it displease thee, I will get me back again.” The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak … that thou shalt speak.”