Num 22:31-34

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 all the way to the ground.

The angel of the LORD said to him,
“Why have you struck your donkey these three times?
Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.

“But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times.
If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”

Balaam said to the angel of the LORD,
“I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me.
Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”

But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam,
“Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.”
So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

The Angel explains that the donkey saw him in the way and turned aside three times.
This saved Balaam from death.

Think.
The donkey could see the unseen.
Balaam could not see.

Balaam’s response?
He declared he had sinned.
Good.
He explained (excused?) that he did not know that the angel was standing in the way.

Balaam then said “if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”
Balaam already knew it was displeasing to the Lord.
He had been told once.
Now the Angel of the Lord comes against him as an adversary.
So, he feigns desire to be obedient?
No,
He wanted an excuse.

The Angel of the Lord told him to “go with the men, but speak only the word which I will tell you.”

That is interesting.

It gives us insight into Who the Angel of the Lord is.

Watch as the story develops…

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