22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
Here we see how Balaam's donkey steps in to protect Balaam from the angel of the LORD who stands ready to kill him. But there is only one other time in all of scripture when we hear an animal speak. Here it is a donkey, and the other is known much better. The serpent in the Garden of Eden, comes to Eve and asks her, "Did God really say?" The serpent invites humanity to sin. The serpent leads Adam and Eve to think they can become like God, or replace God.
But here in our text it is Balaam who is trying to go, and speak his own words on behalf of an enemy King. The princes of Balak desire to hear words of triumph from Balaam, but God is going to give victory to Israel. Thus, he stands against the prophet Balaam who would not speak the word of the LORD.
So the LORD opens the mouth of a donkey. This donkey saves Balaam's life three times and three times the donkey feels the pain of Balaam's staff. We similarly are welcoming to those who bring us words we want to hear. We are happy to listen to people who make us look good. But God stands against us. God reminds us of our sins. So we need someone to help us turn aside, crush our feet, and even lay down under us. We need someone to save us. Someone willing to take the beating that we will hand out, even as he takes the punishment we deserve.
So Jesus Christ steps forward. He takes the beating and mocking of his own people. He takes the punishment we deserve. He even speaks to us the Word that God desires for us to hear. This is not a word that leads to our destruction like the serpent's words, but words that lead to our salvation, like Balaam's donkey spoke. Sometimes we can not always see clearly, and God to use those around us to help us, even his glorious creation.
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