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Numbers 22:23
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21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel

22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, aand the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  
23 Now athe donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.  
24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again.
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Numbers 22:22   Numbers 22:24 >>

What Does Numbers 22:23 Mean?



Numbers 22:23

Balaam tries to do to the donkey what God was trying to do to him!

At this first appearance of the Angel of the Lord, the donkey changes course (good donkey!). Balaam tries to put her back on course—on his course. The donkey proves to be smarter than Balaam. When God stands against a person, the wisest course of action is to turn away and stop moving in the direction he is going because God has a sword and is ready to cut him off.

But Balaam is too blind. He does not see God at all in this, though the donkey does. The donkey knows that Balaam's path leads to destruction, and it wisely turns aside. Blind Balaam continues down the path of sin.

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. (Proverbs 4:14-15)

This is exactly what the donkey is trying to do, but what does Balaam do? He stupidly continues on because he could not see the danger. The donkey shows itself wiser than the "Wise and Powerful Balaam, the Renowned Enchanter"!

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 2)




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Numbers 22:23:

Matthew 21:1-7


 
<< Numbers 22:22   Numbers 22:24 >>

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