The answer is: Foot

Numbers 22:25

The story of Balaam and his donkey is one of those quirky tales in the Bible that catches your attention and leaves you with more questions than answers. Picture this: Balaam is on his way to meet King Balak, not realizing he’s about to have one of the strangest encounters ever recorded. Just when he thinks he’s in charge, his donkey sees an angel of the Lord standing in the way, sword in hand! Instead of hustling Balaam through this dangerous blockage, the donkey turns aside, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall.

Here’s a fun tidbit: donkeys are known for their remarkable intuition. They can sense danger that humans often miss. In this case, the donkey shows more insight than Balaam, whose heart is more focused on greed than righteousness. It prompts a reflection on how recognition of truth can sometimes come from the most unexpected sources, reminding us that wisdom can appear in many forms.

After Balaam's foot gets injured, it's the moment when he strikes the donkey out of frustration that the story truly flips. The donkey speaks, questioning Balaam's treatment while emphasizing a very human dilemma: purpose versus profit. As you explore this story, note how occurrences of animal speech aren't limited to this tale—think of other scriptural instances like the serpent in Genesis. Each serves to challenge the listener’s expectations and highlights the necessity of being truly aware of one’s surroundings and moral responsibilities!