Free Bible lesson for kids · In the Wilderness
Balaam’s Donkey
Balak king of Moab wanted the prophet Balaam to curse Israel, and Balaam saddled his ass and went with the princes of Moab, though God was angry because he went. Three times the angel of the LORD stood in the way with his sword drawn, and the ass saw him and turned aside, but Balaam could not see and struck her, until the LORD opened the mouth of the ass and she spoke. Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes; he bowed down, said, “I have sinned,” and was told to speak only the word that God would give him.
- Bible passage
- Numbers 22:21–35
- Big idea
- God sees what we cannot see, so we should listen to Him and obey.
- Memory verse
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psalm 119:18 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab (Numbers 22:21). God was angry because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way against him (Numbers 22:22). The donkey saw the angel with his sword drawn and turned off into a field, so Balaam hit her (Numbers 22:23). Next she crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall, and then she lay down under him (Numbers 22:24–27).
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth: “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28). The LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel and fell flat on his face (Numbers 22:31). The angel said the donkey had saved Balaam’s life (Numbers 22:32–33). Balaam said, “I have sinned” (Numbers 22:34). He could go on, but must speak only the word God gave him (Numbers 22:35).
Read it in the Bible: Numbers 22:21–35 (KJV)
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. 35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Questions to ask
What did the ass see standing in the way?
The angel of the LORD, with his sword drawn in his hand (Numbers 22:23).
What happened when the LORD opened the mouth of the ass?
She spoke to Balaam: “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28).
What did Balaam do when the LORD opened his eyes?
He bowed down his head and fell flat on his face, and he said, “I have sinned” (Numbers 22:31, 34).
What this story teaches
- God sees what we cannot see (Numbers 22:31).
- God can use anything, even a donkey, to speak (Numbers 22:28).
- God is displeased when our way goes against Him (Numbers 22:32).
- When God shows us our sin, we should admit it (Numbers 22:34).
- God’s messengers must speak only what God gives them (Numbers 22:35).
Jesus Opens Our Eyes
Balaam could not see the angel until the LORD opened his eyes. Jesus opened His followers’ minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:45
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to open our eyes to see His way, and to help us obey His word. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God sees what we cannot see, so we should listen to Him and obey.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Psalm 119:18 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
You need: A big paper donkey on the wall, paper tails with tape, a blindfold
- Each child is blindfolded, spun gently and tries to pin the tail on the donkey.
- Mark each child’s spot with their name.
- Talk: Balaam couldn’t see the angel, but his donkey could!
God even used a donkey to stop Balaam. God can use anything to speak, and He wants us to listen.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes
Talking Animals Improv
You need: Animal cards
- Small groups draw two animal cards and act out a two-minute scene where the animals talk about a lesson from the Bible.
- Everyone votes on the funniest and the wisest.
- Read Numbers 22:28–31 together at the end.
God opened the donkey’s mouth and then opened Balaam’s eyes. Let’s be quick to see what God is saying.
Pray
Ask God to open our eyes to see His way, and to help us obey His word.