Have you ever wondered why your dog suddenly growls at an empty hallway, your cat stares intently into a corner or your horse refuses to move forward for no apparent reason?
According to Bible teacher Perry Stone, Scripture presents at least one remarkable account suggesting God can use animals to perceive danger that humans cannot.
During a recent teaching, Stone explored the biblical account of Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22, asking a question that has intrigued believers for generations: Could God allow animals to see spiritual realities hidden from human eyes?
Stone began with the familiar story of Balaam, the prophet who ignored God’s warning and continued his journey despite the Lord’s instructions. As Balaam traveled, the angel of the Lord stood in the road with a drawn sword. Balaam never saw the angel—but his donkey did.
“The donkey had more sense than the prophet,” Stone remarked, noting that the animal repeatedly turned aside to avoid the angel before God miraculously enabled it to speak.
From that passage, Stone posed the central question of his message.
“Does God open the eyes of your pets at certain times to see angels, or demons, or sense wicked people?” he asked, while adding that he does not believe angels and demons are constantly surrounding every person. Instead, he suggested that, just as in Balaam’s experience, God could choose to make an animal aware of something for a specific purpose.
Stone emphasized that animals play a significant role throughout Scripture. Daniel’s visions use lions, bears and leopards to represent world empires, while Revelation continues that imagery in describing the coming kingdom of the Beast. Elsewhere, the Bible compares believers to sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd, demonstrating that God frequently communicates spiritual truths through the animal kingdom.
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The veteran minister also examined biblical symbolism connected to Satan, including the serpent, scorpion, goat and roaring lion, before contrasting those images with the four living creatures surrounding God’s throne in Revelation 4.
Later in the teaching, Stone discussed Genesis 3 and referenced ancient Jewish traditions recorded by the historian Josephus concerning the serpent in Eden. He presented those traditions as historical commentary rather than biblical doctrine while encouraging viewers to distinguish between Scripture and extra-biblical writings.
Stone ultimately urged his audience to return to the Bible as the ultimate authority. The account of Balaam reminds readers that God is fully capable of using unexpected means to redirect His people.
Sometimes, the greatest lesson isn’t whether an animal can see what we cannot. It’s whether we are listening when God is trying to get our attention.
In an age filled with distractions, Balaam’s story serves as a sobering reminder that spiritual discernment begins not with curiosity about the unseen, but with obedience to the voice of God revealed through His Word.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
