LORD, Open My Eyes!

One character I find most interesting in scripture is that of Balaam the prophet.  When King Balak sent prestigious nobles a second time to entreat him to return with them, they promised honour and advancement should he curse Israel.  God told him to go with them if the men came in the morning and called him.  In the morning, the text says Balaam rose, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  It does not say that Balaam waited to be called, but presumed he was free to go anyway.  Numbers 22:22 reads, "Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him."  When opposition to God makes Him our adversary, that is a bad thing indeed!

As the Angel of the LORD stood in the way with a sword drawn, Balaam was completely clueless to the mortal danger he was in.  The donkey, however, was able to see the imposing angelic warrior.  Upon seeing the Angel, she quickly turned aside into a field.  Balaam was irritated by this unusual occurrence and struck the donkey.  Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow place and when the donkey moved to avoid him she crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.  The searing pain only irritated him more, and he struck her again.  Finally, the Angel of the LORD stood in a place so narrow the donkey could not veer to the side and turn around.  She simply dropped to the ground, prompting Balaam to strike her with his staff.

Numbers 22:28-33 reads, "Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" ²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" ³⁰ So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." ³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, 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 flat on his face. ³² And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. ³³ The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."

More than a donkey enabled to speak by God, I am struck by the irony of the scene.  The donkey saved Balaam three times from the sword of the Angel of the LORD.  When confronted by the donkey after hitting her three times, Balaam raged he wished he had a sword in his hand so he could kill her!  She was three times his saviour, but Balaam's blindness saw her as wayward, careless, and lazy.  Then the LORD opened his eyes and he saw the peril that he unknowingly faced.  He looked into the austere face of grace.  No donkey could possibly outwit or outmaneuver the Angel of the LORD.  God allowed Balaam to be spared, even though he deserved to die for his sin and the donkey deserved to live.

How important it is for God to open our eyes so we can see how He has worked in our lives to preserve and protect us!  The irritations, annoyances, and side-tracks He allows work to advance and accomplish His glorious purposes.  May our eyes be open to see the glory of God so we might fear Him, falling down before Him in worship and reverence, submitted fully to Him.  In a moment man can be cut off from the land of the living, or even destroyed eternally for our rebellion.  Even as God spared Balaam for a purpose, may we be those who bless and refuse to curse.  When God opens our eyes, for the first time we see clearly.  Praise God that He opens the mouths of brute beasts to speak wisdom, causes our eyes to see Him in glory, and chastens us to walk uprightly so we might fulfill His perfect will.