“And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.”
This verse is part of the story of Balaam, a diviner or prophet who was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel. Balaam set out on his journey, but God was displeased with his actions. Along the way, Balaam’s donkey saw an angel of the Lord standing in the path, ready to strike Balaam down. The donkey veered off the road to avoid the angel, causing Balaam to become angry and strike the donkey three times.
In verse 32, we see the angel of the Lord speaking to Balaam, questioning him about why he had struck his donkey three times. The angel reveals that he had come out to oppose Balaam because his way was perverse or contrary to God’s will.
This verse highlights several important lessons:
- God’s Awareness and Intervention: The passage reminds us that God is aware of our actions and interventions in our lives when necessary. The angel of the Lord was sent to prevent Balaam from proceeding on a path that was contrary to God’s purpose.
- Divine Guidance: God’s angel stood in Balaam’s way to redirect him. This demonstrates that God guides and directs our paths, even if we may not be aware of it at the time. God’s intervention in our lives is a testament to His desire to guide us in accordance with His will.
- Obedience to God’s Will: Balaam’s actions were contrary to what God desired. The angel’s question about why Balaam had struck his donkey serves as a rebuke, drawing attention to Balaam’s wrongful behavior. It reminds us of the importance of aligning our actions and choices with God’s will.
- Animal Communication: This passage also highlights the extraordinary event of the donkey speaking. The donkey, being guided by God, acted in a way that seemed unusual to Balaam. This unique occurrence serves as a reminder that God can use unexpected means to communicate and intervene in our lives.
Overall, Numbers 22:32 emphasizes the importance of aligning our actions with God’s will, acknowledging His intervention in our lives, and being open to His guidance, even if it comes in unexpected ways. It serves as a reminder to seek God’s direction and obey His will in our daily lives.
