Introduction - A Letter from St Peter
2 Peter 2:15-19
15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
Peter gives a warning about false teachers and evokes the name of Balaam….
Who was he? And what is this about the donkey?
Here is the synopsis of this summer series:
The Old Testament laws, rituals, symbols and stories are a pre-image - a foreshadowing of the ultimate reality and truth found in Jesus Christ. These shadows point toward the need and fulfillment of God’s promise.
The Setting
Balaam
The Backstory in Numbers 22
Balaam was the pagan counterpart to Moses the man of God. … Balaam was an internationally known prophet, a diviner expert in examining the entrails of animals and observing natural phenomena to determine the will of the gods. He thought that the Lord God of Israel was like any other deity whom he imagined he might manipulate by mantic acts. But from the early part of the narrative, when he first encounters the true God in visions, and in the humorous narrative of the journey on the donkey, Balaam begins to learn what for him was a strange, bizarre, even incomprehensible lesson: An encounter with the God of reality was fundamentally different than anything he had ever known.
-Frank Gaebelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary
The wild story….
Numbers 22:21-38
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.
What learn from Balaam…
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The body cannot come back to health as long as the heart, hardened by pain and suffering, resists God’s softening touch.
-Dr. Michael Moore, Reflections on the Balaam Story
What we learn from God…
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What we learn for our lives…
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Colossians 1
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your mindsbecause of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Small Group Questions:
Text: Numbers 22:21-38
Warm-Up Question
What’s the most unexpected way God has gotten your attention? (Bonus points if it involved a talking animal.)
1. What we learn from Balaam
Why do you think Balaam was so blind to the presence of the angel, while his donkey saw it clearly? What does this reveal about Balaam’s spiritual state?
What role does pride or reputation play in Balaam’s reactions? Where in your life are you tempted to protect your image over listening to God?
Dr. Michael Moore writes, “The body cannot come back to health as long as the heart, hardened by pain and suffering, resists God’s softening touch.” How do you see this in Balaam’s story? Have you experienced a time when your heart resisted God’s correction?
2. What we learn about God
What does this story tell us about how far God will go to stop us from going down a destructive path?
Why do you think God allows Balaam to continue on his way, even after confronting him? What does this say about God’s sovereignty and patience?
How does this passage reflect the idea in Colossians 1 that Christ holds all things together—even when people are unaware of what’s happening spiritually?
3. What we learn for our lives
Have you ever ignored spiritual “warning signs” like Balaam did? What helps you slow down and pay attention to God’s voice?
The donkey speaks the truth Balaam couldn’t see. Who are the “donkeys” in your life—people or moments where God spoke truth in surprising ways? Did you listen?
Wrap-Up Question
Is there an area in your life right now where God may be trying to redirect you? What would it look like to pause, pray, and listen instead of pushing forward?