Balaam and the Talking Donkey Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God wanted to bless his people.”
God’s people camped near the land of Moab. Balak, the king of Moab, was afraid of them. There were so many! The people of Moab said, “They will lick up all that is around us.” Like a cow licks up grass! Slurp! Can you lick like a hungry cow?
So the king sent for a man named Balaam. “Come, curse this people for me,” he said. To curse means to wish bad things on someone. God wanted to bless his people.
That night God came to Balaam. God said, “You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam said no to the king.
The king sent more important men. He promised Balaam great honor. But Balaam said, “I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God.” Not even for a house full of silver and gold!
That night God said, “Go with them. But only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
In the morning Balaam saddled his donkey and rode off. Clip-clop, clip-clop. But God was not pleased. The LORD’s angel stood in the road with a sword in his hand. Balaam did not see him. But the donkey did!
The donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam hit her. Then the angel stood on a narrow path, with a wall on each side. The donkey pushed against a wall. She squeezed Balaam’s foot. Ouch! Balaam hit her again.
Then the angel stood in a very narrow place. There was no way to go left or right. So the donkey lay down. Balaam was very angry. He hit her a third time. One, two, three times!
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey. She talked! “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” Hee-haw! Can you talk like a donkey?
The donkey said, “Am I not your donkey?” Balaam had ridden on her all his life. She had never done this before. “No,” said Balaam.
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes. He saw the angel with the sword. Balaam bowed down low, with his face to the ground.
The angel spoke. “The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times.” The donkey had kept Balaam safe! Balaam said, “I have sinned.” The angel said, “Go with the men. But you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.”
So Balaam came to King Balak. The king took him up high on a hill. From there Balaam could see some of God’s people. The king wanted him to curse them. God wanted to bless his people.
But Balaam opened his mouth and blessed them! “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?” he said. “Who can count the dust of Jacob?” That means: God’s people are as many as the specks of dust!
The king was very angry. He clapped his hands together. “You have altogether blessed them these three times!” he said. Three times! Can you count them with me? One, two, three! God wanted to bless his people.
God took care of his people, even when they did not know it. God wanted to bless his people.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think Balaam thought when his donkey started to talk?
- Why do you think the donkey stopped on the road?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth” — Numbers 22:38 (I will speak → put your hand by your mouth; that God puts → point up high; in my mouth → touch your lips)
Dear God, thank you that you bless your people. Thank you that you take care of us, even when we don’t see it. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God can speak in surprising ways
Memory verse: “I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.” — Numbers 22:38 · WEB
The Bible story
When a man sets off to say unkind words about God's people, his gentle donkey sees something he cannot — and speaks out loud to keep him safe!
Talk about it
- Why was King Balak afraid? — So many Israelites camped near him
- What did King Balak want Balaam to do? — Curse God's people
- What did God tell Balaam about the people? — Do not curse them; they are blessed
- What did God send to stand in the road? — An angel with a sword
- Who saw the angel first? — The donkey
- What did the donkey do to keep Balaam safe? — Turned off the path
Where is Jesus in this story?
Balaam was hired to curse Israel, but God made him speak a wonderful promise instead: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). That promise pointed to a King who would come from Israel, and Jesus is that King. At the end of the Bible, Jesus says, “I am the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).
What God wants to tell us
Balaam was so busy chasing gold that he did not notice God trying to stop him. But God stopped him on the road, and He used a humble little donkey to open his eyes. God shows us that He can teach and guide us through anything and anyone, even the small and unexpected. When we slow down and really listen, we will find that God is always watching over us and gently leading us the right way.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that You always watch over me. Help me to slow down and listen to You, and to trust that You are leading me the right way. Thank You for turning sad things into good things, just like You did for Your people long ago. Amen.
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