In the book of Numbers 22, we encounter a remarkable story of Balaam and his donkey, where divine intervention takes place unseen—until God opens the eyes of the one meant to see. This passage provides a powerful lesson about how God’s guidance and protection are often at work, even when we remain spiritually unaware.

The Blindness of Balaam

Balaam, a prophet, was summoned by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel. Though God had clearly instructed him not to go, Balaam insisted and set out on his journey. However, “the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him” (Numbers 22:22, KJV), blocking his path with a sword drawn. Balaam, blinded to the spiritual reality before him, continued forward—only to be halted by his donkey.

The Donkey’s Discernment

Unlike Balaam, his donkey saw the danger ahead. Three times, the animal tried to avoid the angel, even crushing Balaam’s foot against a wall in its desperation (Numbers 22:25). Yet, instead of realizing something divine was at work, Balaam became angry and struck the donkey.

At this point, God performed a miracle: “And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28, KJV). A talking donkey was certainly unexpected—but more profound was Balaam’s blindness to the fact that God had been intervening to protect him.

Spiritual Blindness vs. Divine Intervention

Much like Balaam, we often fail to recognize God’s invisible hand guiding our lives. We question delays, obstacles, and closed doors, unaware that God may be protecting us from unseen dangers or redirecting us toward His will.

Even when we are spiritually blind, God continues to intervene:

• Through circumstances that seem frustrating but are actually for our protection.
• Through people who challenge us, preventing harmful decisions.
• Through moments when plans fail, leading us toward better paths.

Just as God opened Balaam’s eyes, sometimes He allows us to see the truth in hindsight. Numbers 22 teaches us that God is at work, even when we cannot see Him.

Are We Paying Attention?

Balaam’s donkey was more spiritually aware than the prophet himself. This begs the question: Are we truly paying attention to the signs God places before us?

Perhaps delays, obstacles, or sudden redirections in our lives are not failures—but divine interventions guiding us toward a greater purpose.

Let us pray for wisdom and discernment, so that unlike Balaam, we recognize God’s intervention before we suffer the consequences of blind decisions.

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