Read: Numbers 22:20-35
Then . . . Balaam . . . saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way. (v. 31)
Yesterday we saw what happened when an angel led the way out for God’s people. But what does it mean when an angel blocks the way? Could it be just as loving of God to prevent us from moving forward as it is to make a way for us?
Today’s passage contains ingredients that make for a fantastic story: a talking donkey, a fearsome warrior that only the donkey can see, and the donkey’s painfully oblivious master. Seeing the successful conquest of the Israelites upon entering Canaan, the prince of Moab summoned the prophet Balaam to put a curse on God’s people. Though Balaam initially refused out of obedience to God, he eventually agreed to go with the king’s entourage. This angered God, who sent an angel to block Balaam “as his adversary” (v. 22).
Although he was a prophet, Balaam was blind to the spiritual reality at work around him. God opened the mouth of a donkey to open Balaam’s eyes, and the angel that Balaam saw blocking his path led him to repentance. In his great mercy, God provided Balaam with an angel and a talking donkey to help set Balaam’s path straight. At times we, too, are blinded by our own stubborn insistence about how things should go. The story of Balaam, the donkey, and the angel shows us that God is just as much at work when the path is blocked as he is when the way is clear.
As you pray, ask God to help you see his prevention as a sign of his protection and provision.
Katelyn J. Dixon is a contemplative writer, speaker, and poet living in the Seattle area. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring the enchanting Pacific Northwest with her husband, Drew, while partnering with him in life and ministry.
