The donkey’s refusal to move underscores God’s power to reveal truth even when human intentions are misguided.
In this verse, we see the donkey’s continued awareness of the spiritual reality that Balaam fails to perceive. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. (v.27) This event takes place in the land of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in the region of present-day Jordan, where Balaam—a prophet active around the mid-1400s BC—has been summoned by the Moabite king to curse the Israelites. Despite Balaam’s prophetic calling, his impatience blinds him to God’s presence, while his donkey humbly recognizes and submits to the angel of the LORD. This juxtaposition reminds us that even the most unassuming creature can be used to expose human error.
The details of the donkey’s posture, laying down underneath Balaam, highlight her complete refusal to disobey God’s messenger—despite having been beaten. Repeated attempts by the donkey to avoid harm illustrate how God’s warnings sometimes come through unexpected means (compare 2 Peter 2:15-16). Balaam’s anger escalates because he—for the third time—cannot see what the donkey sees, underscoring the tragedy of spiritual blindness. Like many accounts in Scripture, this scene emphasizes our need for humility when confronted with God’s guidance.
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Numbers 22:27 meaning
In this verse, we see the donkey’s continued awareness of the spiritual reality that Balaam fails to perceive. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. (v.27) This event takes place in the land of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in the region of present-day Jordan, where Balaam—a prophet active around the mid-1400s BC—has been summoned by the Moabite king to curse the Israelites. Despite Balaam’s prophetic calling, his impatience blinds him to God’s presence, while his donkey humbly recognizes and submits to the angel of the LORD. This juxtaposition reminds us that even the most unassuming creature can be used to expose human error.
The details of the donkey’s posture, laying down underneath Balaam, highlight her complete refusal to disobey God’s messenger—despite having been beaten. Repeated attempts by the donkey to avoid harm illustrate how God’s warnings sometimes come through unexpected means (compare 2 Peter 2:15-16). Balaam’s anger escalates because he—for the third time—cannot see what the donkey sees, underscoring the tragedy of spiritual blindness. Like many accounts in Scripture, this scene emphasizes our need for humility when confronted with God’s guidance.