(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 22:22–35, “And 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. And 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. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And 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. And 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. And 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. And 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? And 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. And 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. Then 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. And 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: And 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. And 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. And 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.”
Even though Balaam had a vision from the Lord, he was still following his own way. The Lord told him no to go with Balak’s men but he told them to wait and see if the Lord would change. The Lord didn’t change but allowed Balaam to go anyway (compare Psalm 106:15, “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”). Even though Balaam was determined to get his own way, the Lord gave him a further chance to change his mind. Balaam rode his donkey as he went to Balak’s place. At first the donkey left the pathway and went into a field, then the donkey tried to leave the path but there were walls on both sides and Balaam crushed his foot against one of the walls. The donkey saw the Lord’s angel standing in the way with a sword trying to stop Balaam from going with Balak’s men but Balaam was so busy thinking about the money that he didn’t see the angel. Eventually the donkey spoke to Balaam when he began to curse the donkey and beat it for crushing his foot. Balaam was greedy that he didn’t even think it was strange that the donkey spoke to him but he did see the Lord’s angel in the way. The angel gave Balaam one last stern warning and let him go with Balak’s men because he was so eager to get his money.
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