Seeing Clearly: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness Through Submission

Today’s journey began with a story that, on the surface, feels like it belongs in a scary movie: a talking donkey, an angel with a drawn sword, and a man caught between the demands of a king and the command of God. But beneath the strangeness of Balaam’s story in Numbers 22 lies a profound truth about spiritual blindness and the danger of trusting in our own understanding. Balaam, a man known for his spiritual power, is ironically blind to the spiritual reality unfolding right in front of him. It is his donkey—an animal with no claim to spiritual authority—who sees the angel blocking their path. God opens the donkey’s mouth to speak, and eventually opens Balaam’s eyes to the truth he had missed.

This story is not just about Balaam’s blindness, but about the blindness that can settle over any of us when we rely on our own wisdom, our own strength, or our own agenda. Balaam’s journey is a warning: even those who seem spiritually attuned can miss what God is doing if they are not truly submitted to His authority. The king’s repeated offers of reward and power tempt Balaam, but after his encounter with the angel, Balaam’s perspective is transformed. He learns that true vision comes not from his own abilities, but from listening to God and obeying His voice.

The lesson is clear: submitting to God’s authority is what allows us to see truth clearly. We live in a world that is both physical and spiritual, and there are realities we cannot perceive on our own. Like Balaam, we often make decisions based on our own experience, emotions, or self-interest, forgetting to seek God’s perspective. But God is able to open our eyes, to help us see what is truly happening around us, and to guide us into His truth.

Ultimately, this story points us to Jesus, who came to give sight to the blind—not just physically, but spiritually. Jesus exposes the blindness of those who think they see, and offers true vision to those who admit their need. The invitation is to come to Him, to ask Him to open our eyes, and to live in the freedom and clarity that only He can provide.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual blindness is not limited to the irreligious or the inexperienced; even those with spiritual authority, like Balaam, can be blind to what God is doing. It is possible to be so focused on our own agenda or abilities that we miss the presence and direction of God right in front of us. True spiritual sight requires humility and a willingness to be corrected. [11:57]
• 2. God sometimes uses unexpected means to get our attention and reveal truth. In Balaam’s case, it was a donkey who saw what the “spiritual expert” could not. This reminds us that God can speak through anyone or anything, and we must remain open to His voice, even when it comes from surprising sources. [12:20]
• 3. Submitting to God’s authority is the only way to see reality as it truly is. Balaam’s transformation came when he stopped insisting on his own way and surrendered to God’s command, even in the face of pressure and temptation. Our own clarity comes when we lay down our pride and let God lead. [16:38]
• 4. The story of Balaam is a mirror for our own lives: we often make decisions based on what seems best to us, forgetting the spiritual dimension of our circumstances. We must remember that we live in both a physical and spiritual world, and that God alone can give us the vision to navigate both faithfully. [19:58]
• 5. Jesus came to give sight to the blind, exposing the self-deception of those who claim to see while remaining spiritually blind. The call is to admit our need, to ask Jesus to open our eyes, and to trust Him to reveal the truth we cannot see on our own. This is the path to true freedom and spiritual clarity. [22:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Scary Movie Clip & Introduction
• [02:30] - Why Address Scary Stories in Church?
• [03:18] - Series Overview: Scary Stories in the Bible
• [04:10] - Setting the Scene: Israel’s Wilderness Journey
• [05:32] - Meet Balak and Balaam
• [06:36] - The Donkey Enters the Story
• [07:02] - Balak’s Request and Balaam’s Dilemma
• [08:19] - God’s Command and Balaam’s Response
• [09:30] - God’s Anger and the Angel’s Intervention
• [10:28] - The Donkey Sees What Balaam Cannot
• [12:20] - The Donkey Speaks
• [13:31] - Balaam’s Eyes Are Opened
• [15:15] - Balaam’s Second Chance
• [16:38] - Balaam’s Transformation and Obedience
• [17:49] - Balaam’s Final Message: Eyes Wide Open
• [19:58] - The Danger of Self-Reliance
• [20:44] - Jesus: The One Who Gives Sight
• [22:44] - The Pharisees and Spiritual Blindness
• [24:35] - Communion Invitation: Come with Eyes Wide Open
• [26:33] - Closing and Worship

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Eyes Wide Open – The Story of Balaam (Numbers 22)

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Bible Reading

Numbers 22:21-34 (ESV)
> 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
> 22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
> 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
> 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
> 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
> 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
> 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
> 28 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 made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
> 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
> 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell 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 oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
> 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”
> 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

John 9:39-41 (ESV)
> 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
> 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
> 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

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Observation Questions

1. In the story, who was able to see the angel in the road first—Balaam or his donkey? What was Balaam’s reaction to the donkey’s behavior? ([10:28])
2. What did God do to get Balaam’s attention when he was heading down the wrong path? ([12:20])
3. After Balaam’s eyes were opened, how did his attitude and response to God’s instructions change? ([13:31])
4. According to Jesus in John 9, what is the difference between those who admit they are blind and those who claim they can see? ([22:44])

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to use a donkey—an unexpected and “unqualified” messenger—to reveal the truth to Balaam? What does this say about how God communicates with us? ([12:20])
2. What does Balaam’s initial spiritual blindness teach us about the dangers of relying on our own wisdom or spiritual “track record”? ([11:57])
3. How does Balaam’s story mirror the warning Jesus gives to the Pharisees in John 9 about spiritual blindness? ([22:44])
4. What does it mean to have “eyes wide open” spiritually, and how does that relate to submitting to God’s authority? ([18:37])

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Application Questions

1. Can you think of a time when you were so focused on your own plans or desires that you missed what God was doing right in front of you? What helped you “see” more clearly? ([19:10])
2. Balaam was tempted by rewards and recognition from the king. Are there areas in your life where you feel pressure to compromise what you know God wants for the sake of approval, success, or comfort? How do you handle those moments? ([16:01])
3. The sermon mentioned that God sometimes uses unexpected people or situations to get our attention. Has God ever spoken to you through an unlikely source? How did you respond? ([12:20])
4. Balaam’s transformation came when he admitted his mistake and submitted to God’s authority. Is there an area in your life where you need to surrender your own agenda and ask God for His perspective? What would it look like to do that this week? ([14:34])
5. Jesus said He came to give sight to the blind. In what ways do you need Jesus to open your eyes right now—whether in relationships, decisions, or understanding your own heart? ([22:44])
6. The story warns against spiritual pride—thinking we “see” when we are actually blind. What are some practical ways you can stay humble and open to correction from God and others? ([11:57])
7. The sermon ended with an invitation to come to Jesus and ask Him to open our eyes. What is one specific prayer you can pray this week to invite God to help you see more clearly? ([26:08])

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Closing Thought:
Like Balaam, we all have blind spots. The good news is that God is patient and creative in helping us see. Let’s encourage each other to listen, to stay humble, and to keep asking Jesus to open our eyes—so we can live with true vision and freedom.