The account of Balaam’s talking donkey is found in Numbers 22 and serves as both a miraculous event and a rebuke against spiritual blindness. Balaam was a prophet for hire who was summoned by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Though Balaam initially refused, he later went with the Moabite officials in hopes of receiving a reward.
As Balaam traveled, the angel of the Lord stood in his path to oppose him. The donkey saw the angel, though Balaam did not, and turned aside three times to avoid it. In frustration, Balaam struck the donkey. Then God performed a miracle. Numbers 22:28 says:
“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?’”
This event was not symbolic or poetic, it was a literal miracle by the power of God. The donkey not only spoke but engaged in a conversation with Balaam. Shortly after, the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword.
This incident exposed the prophet’s spiritual blindness and his reckless pursuit of reward over obedience. Even a beast of burden had more spiritual discernment than the so-called prophet.
Peter later refers to this event in 2 Peter 2:15–16:
“They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam… who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.”
The talking donkey stands as a testimony to God’s power to speak through whomever He wills and a warning against greed, compromise, and resisting divine correction.
