Ernest Joseph Louis Ganancial
Balak summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites for fear of invasion. Balaam refused the first request of Balak because God did not want him to do so. In the second request God had only allowed Balaam to go to Balak with the condition that Balaam will do what God exactly wanted him to do. Why curse Israel , what is it to curse Israel
Balaam is a diviner[1](a foreseer, to be inspired by God[2]), as we can see he was a non-Jew or someone coming from outside of the Israelites company. God speaks even to those outside of Israel’s tribe suggesting God had the power to speak to others outside of the chosen people. God intervenes even to a hired a prophet. God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed[3]. God intervenes so that his plan for his people, his promise will not fail, that even those outside of Israel
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; and the ass (Other translation would suggest she-donkey) turned aside out of the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her into the road. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall, and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her again.. Then the angel of the LORD went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.. When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"[5]
Here God wanted to change Balaam’s direction through sending an angel; the angel was not seen by Balaam – he was blind to the angel. What and is this not-seeing of Balaam and why? He was not able to see because he was blinded of his “plan”- to go to Balak. But the she-donkey saw the angel. Balaam a seer could not see while the she-Donkey could see the angel and went away from the road. Balaam is a prophet he could have seen what God wanted him to do but it was the donkey, an animal considered to be stupid has been sensitive to the will of God. And due to his anger with the donkey for going into the wrong (right) way he beat the animal. “The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand[6]."
Balaam as a gentile prophet should have seen the angel, while the donkey, a stupid animal should have not. But the opposite happened. It was Balaam who did not see the angel he was blinded by the fact that he will go to Balak. While the donkey wanting to protect his master (out of loyalty and faithfulness), veered into a different direction. In spite of this Balaam was insensitive to the intention of the donkey and punished the donkey for not agreeing to his will. Three times this event occurred, three times the donkey avoided the angel, and three times Balaam beaten him. Why? God could have just stopped Balaam in many ways but why let an angel whom Balaam could not see stop him? It is intentional, God never works on chances, the Lord wanted to shame Balaam and to show how great the power of the Lord is. That even animals will submit to his will and another thing is that those who are lowly, the fool, the stupid will know what God wants while those who are wise and great will not. Great Balaam may be, it is the donkey that was able to see the angel. And then believing he was right and the donkey was wrong Balaam beat the donkey (poor donkey).
I could see here a “teacher complex” or the “crusading mind”. The teacher complex is understood as interested in teaching but does not want to learn[7] while the crusading mind assumes a stance of aggressive proselytizing and “bulldozes man and history without appreciation of their complexities.”[8] Balaam thought that the act of the donkey was an act of stupidity. Rather it was an act of wisdom, and that Balaam’s action was an act of stupidity. He was not able to see because he is too full of himself thinking that what he is doing was the will of God, but it was to those who are stupid that God has shown his will.
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 his head, and fell on his face.[9] If only Balaam have been perceptive to the will of God, he would not have beaten his donkey, but he was not, he judged the donkey and was about to kill the donkey. And if the donkey did not avoid the angel he could have been killed, knowing the will of God is difficult as implied in the text even the seer was not able to recognize the angel, unmindful of the angel, but it took the power of the Lord for Balaam to see the angel. It is the Lord who opened the eyes of Balaam so that he may see the angel and instruct him on what God wants. The implication tries to tell us how God speaks. First God speaks to the lowly – the donkey in this case; second God always initiates revelation. God’s knowledge and ways are beyond human understanding, and if we assume too much i.e. that we know what God wants, it may lead us to our own harm. E.g that oftentimes an authority (like Balaam) is enough as a standard for knowing God’s will; and those who are lowly cannot be a recipient of this grace, but as in the story it is the opposite that may occured. That it is why it has always been a question. Why are the rich running a poor country? Is it their foreign education that allows them to become wise? Do they know what is the need of the poor? Often the criteria for leadership is popularity and connections how about experience and compassion? This is blind leadership! Even in local communities is it mere intelligence or should it be wisdom of the lowly we should listen to? To know God’s will is not by mere worldly criteria; but to face the reality per se and see who correctly understand the situation.
After this, Balaam performed four oracles; if we look at Joshua we could understand the Divine will and how powerful it is. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and invited Balaam the son of Be'or to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I delivered you out of his hand[10]. Instead of cursing Israel Balaam blessed the Israelites, Balaam is just a mere prophet as much as he wanted to curse Israel he could not for God had already planned the victory that is for Israel. And in Micah: O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Be'or answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.[11]" This verse tries to remind Israel that God saves them, even through those outside of Israel, by speaking to gentiles, that his power encompasses all.
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