Balaam’s stubborn intent to journey onward resulted in the angel of the LORD becoming his adversary, calling the prophet to realign his heart with God’s will.
“But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.” (v.22)
In this passage, Balaam sets out under questionable motives, having been summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, who wished to hire him to curse the Israelites. Although Balaam received initial permission from God to go only under specific conditions, God was angry because he was going indicates that Balaam’s heart and intentions may have drifted toward selfish gain rather than complete obedience. Historically, this took place near the close of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, as they camped on the plains of Moab east of the Dead Sea, sometime around the late 15th or early 14th century BC. Moab bordered Canaan on the east, making it a likely route for the Israelites to travel and also a place of deep concern for the Moabites.The verse states that the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. This heavenly being, often considered a direct agent or manifestation of God, blocked Balaam’s path to underscore the seriousness of God’s displeasure. Despite Balaam’s prophetic gifting, his willingness to accommodate Balak’s request left him susceptible to God’s rebuke. As Balaam continued forward, he was riding on his donkey, a trusted means of transportation in the ancient Near East, and was accompanied by his two servants. The presence of servants highlights Balaam’s status, but it also emphasizes that his journey had a worldly character—a mission entangled with bribes and personal gain.In broader biblical perspective, Balaam’s story serves as a warning about mixing a pursuit of worldly rewards with one’s calling from God (2 Peter 2:15-16). While God uses prophets to speak truth, this account reminds readers that motive matters. God’s direct intervention shows how He disciplines and corrects those who stray from His instruction. Like many moments in Scripture that foreshadow the need for deeper obedience and humility, Balaam’s confrontation with the angel of the LORD teaches that outward permission does not always equate to inward approval.
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Numbers 22:22 meaning
“But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.” (v.22)
In this passage, Balaam sets out under questionable motives, having been summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, who wished to hire him to curse the Israelites. Although Balaam received initial permission from God to go only under specific conditions, God was angry because he was going indicates that Balaam’s heart and intentions may have drifted toward selfish gain rather than complete obedience. Historically, this took place near the close of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, as they camped on the plains of Moab east of the Dead Sea, sometime around the late 15th or early 14th century BC. Moab bordered Canaan on the east, making it a likely route for the Israelites to travel and also a place of deep concern for the Moabites.The verse states that the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. This heavenly being, often considered a direct agent or manifestation of God, blocked Balaam’s path to underscore the seriousness of God’s displeasure. Despite Balaam’s prophetic gifting, his willingness to accommodate Balak’s request left him susceptible to God’s rebuke. As Balaam continued forward, he was riding on his donkey, a trusted means of transportation in the ancient Near East, and was accompanied by his two servants. The presence of servants highlights Balaam’s status, but it also emphasizes that his journey had a worldly character—a mission entangled with bribes and personal gain.In broader biblical perspective, Balaam’s story serves as a warning about mixing a pursuit of worldly rewards with one’s calling from God (2 Peter 2:15-16). While God uses prophets to speak truth, this account reminds readers that motive matters. God’s direct intervention shows how He disciplines and corrects those who stray from His instruction. Like many moments in Scripture that foreshadow the need for deeper obedience and humility, Balaam’s confrontation with the angel of the LORD teaches that outward permission does not always equate to inward approval.