(21) When he arose in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and departed with the Moabite dignitaries. (22) But God was incensed at his going; so a messenger of יהוה took a position in his way as an adversary. He was riding on his donkey, with his two servants alongside, (23) when the donkey caught sight of the messenger of יהוה standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. The donkey swerved from the road and went into the fields; and Balaam beat the donkey to turn her back onto the road. (24) The messenger of יהוה then stationed himself in a lane between the vineyards, with a fence on either side. (25) The donkey, seeing the messenger of יהוה, pressed herself against the wall and squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he beat her again. (26) Once more the messenger of יהוה moved forward and stationed himself on a spot so narrow that there was no room to swerve right or left. (27) When the donkey now saw the messenger of יהוה, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was furious and beat the donkey with his stick. (28) Then יהוה opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” (29) Balaam said to the donkey, “You have made a mockery of me! If I had a sword with me, I’d kill you.” (30) The donkey said to Balaam, “Look, I am the donkey that you have been riding all along until this day! Have I been in the habit of doing thus to you?” And he answered, “No.” (31) Then יהוה uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the messenger of יהוה standing in the way, his drawn sword in his hand; thereupon he bowed right down to the ground. (32) The messenger of יהוה said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? It is I who came out as an adversary, for the errand is obnoxious to me. (33) And when the donkey saw me, she shied away because of me those three times. If she had not shied away from me, you are the one I should have killed, while sparing her.” (34) Balaam said to the messenger of יהוה, “I erred because I did not know that you were standing in my way. If you still disapprove, I will turn back.” (35) But the messenger of יהוה said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But you must say nothing except what I tell you.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s dignitaries.
King Balak has asked his magician/servant, Balaam, to curse the Israelites who are wandering in the desert. But God doesn't want this to happen, so God sends a "messenger" to stop Balaam's donkey.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is happening in this "scene"?
2. Why does the donkey swerve and turn against Balaam's wishes?
3. Why do you think Balaam beats the donkey?
4. A similar pattern repeats itself: the adversary appears, the donkey swerves, Balaam beats the donkey. Why do you think this pattern repeats 3 times?
5. What is the donkey trying to tell Balaam?
6. Finally Balaam sees the adversary. Why do you think only the donkey saw him first?
7. Is there a time in your life when you saw something that someone else didn't see or vice versa? What helped you or the other person see (if you did eventually)?