Balak, the King of Moab, commissions Balaam, a non-Jewish prophet, to curse the Jews.
He sent messengers to Balaam and offered to give Balaam great riches to accomplish this task.
Balaam received the messengers, however in the night God appeared to Balaam and told him
he should NOT do what the King asked. Balaam told the messengers and they returned to Balak
with the negative answer.
Balak sent more distinguished messengers to Balaam with greater promises. Balaam told the
messengers he would seek God again in the night and tell them in the morning. This time when
God appeared to Balaam, He said, “… you may go, HOWEVER, you must do what I tell you to
do.” The next morning Balaam saddled his donkey and was ready to go with Balak’s
messengers.
As they went, God sent an angel with a sword to block the path of the donkey. The donkey saw
the angel and turned from the path. Balaam did NOT see the angel and beat the donkey for
going away from the path. This happened a second time, and a third time, until the donkey just
lay down under Balaam. Balaam was very angry and to his surprise, the donkey began to speak
asking “Why have you beaten me three times?” God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel
with the drawn sword, who reprimanded Balaam for his actions. Balaam asks if he should turn
back and forget the journey, and the angel says to continue, however, the angel told Balaam
that he would only be able to speak EXACTLY what God told him to speak.
Balaam arrives in Moab and goes to King Balak. He tells Balak to prepare seven altars and make
a sacrifice on each one. He then speaks to Balak and tells him, “You want me to curse the
Jewish people…. how can I curse what God has NOT cursed?” Out of Balaam mouth came
BLESSINGS. Balak tried taking Balaam to two other places telling him to curse, however, only
BLESSINGS and great praise came forth. Balak was angry and told Balaam to leave, and as he
was leaving, Balaam prophesied to Balak what was going to happen to his people in the end of
days.
Thought: When God has a message, He wants the world to hear, or a lesson to be learned, He
will use even a talking donkey, and a “not so beautiful vessel”, as Balaam, and change it for His
divine purposes.

HAFTORAH: Micah 5:7 – 6:8
(NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 11:25-32)