Numbers 22:31-35: a reflection

31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. 33The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.” 34Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.” 35The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

As Balaam rides on, angry at his donkey for stopping in the road, he is blind to the reason: an angel of the LORD, sword drawn, standing in his way, which the donkey could see but he could not. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD's angel standing in the way; and he bowed his head and fell on his face. Balaam had been blind to a reality that was right in front of him, a danger, a warning from God, until God opened his eyes to see it. What he could not perceive on his own, God revealed to him. This shows that there are realities we can be blind to, right before us, that only God can open our eyes to see: dangers we do not perceive, warnings we miss, God's own presence and dealings that we are blind to until he reveals them. God can open our eyes to see what we have been blind to. What we cannot perceive on our own, God can reveal. Balaam saw only when the LORD opened his eyes. There are realities we miss until God opens our eyes to them.

Notice what happened: Balaam could not see the angel until God opened his eyes. The reality was there all along, the angel in the road, the danger, the warning; but Balaam was blind to it, perceiving only his donkey's stubbornness. It was only when the LORD opened his eyes that he saw what was really there. This is instructive, for it reveals that we can be blind to realities right before us, unable to perceive them on our own: dangers in our path, warnings we are missing, God's own hand at work, the true state of things. And it reveals that God can open our eyes to see what we have missed. We do not always perceive rightly on our own; there are things we are blind to until God reveals them to us. To have our eyes opened by God, to be shown what we could not perceive, is a gift; and it should make us humble about our own blindness, and open to God's revealing. What seems clear to us may not be the whole reality; God can open our eyes to more. Our own perception is limited; God can show us what we miss. We need God to open our eyes.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can be blind to realities right before us, and God can open our eyes to see what we have missed. We can be confident in our own perception, blind to dangers, warnings, or God's own dealings that are right before us, as Balaam was blind to the angel until God opened his eyes. Our perception is limited; there are things we miss until God reveals them. This should make us humble about our own blindness, and open to God opening our eyes. Do not be overconfident in your own perception; ask God to open your eyes to what you may be blind to, as he opened Balaam's. Ask God to open your eyes to the realities you may be blind to, humble about your own limited perception, as the LORD opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel he had not perceived standing in his way; for there are realities right before us, dangers, warnings, God's own hand at work, that we can be blind to on our own, and God can open our eyes to see what we have missed, so that we do well to be humble about our own perception and open to God's revealing, rather than confident that we see the whole reality when there may be much we are blind to.

Lord, as Balaam rides on, angry at his donkey for stopping in the road, he is blind to the reason: an angel of the LORD, sword drawn, standing in his way, which the donkey could see but he could not. Then you opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way; and he bowed his head and fell on his face. Balaam had been blind to a reality that was right in front of him, a danger, a warning from you, until you opened his eyes to see it. What he could not perceive on his own, you revealed to him. Show me what happened: Balaam could not see the angel until you opened his eyes. The reality was there all along; but Balaam was blind to it. It was only when you opened his eyes that he saw what was really there. This reveals that I can be blind to realities right before me, unable to perceive them on my own: dangers in my path, warnings I am missing, your own hand at work. And it reveals that you can open my eyes to see what I have missed. I do not always perceive rightly on my own. This should make me humble about my own blindness, and open to your revealing. Take that to my heart, for I can be blind to realities right before me, and you can open my eyes to see what I have missed. I can be confident in my own perception, blind to dangers, warnings, or your own dealings that are right before me, as Balaam was blind to the angel. My perception is limited; there are things I miss until you reveal them. Keep me from being overconfident in my own perception; help me ask you to open my eyes, Lord, to what I may be blind to, as you opened Balaam's eyes to the angel, that I may be humble about my own limited sight and open to what you would show me.