Let’s look a bit closer to Balak’s call to Balaam to come curse Israel. The story is recorded in Numbers 22 and 31, but spoken of again in Jude and Revelation 2. Baalam was a prophet from Mesopotamia who lived near the Euphrates River and who might have know something of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He lived during the time the children of Israel returned to Canaan after their wilderness experience. He was also known as a seer.

— The apparent contradiction of God not a contradiction

Balak sent the princes of Moab to get Baalam the son of Beor at Pethor (Mesopotamia) and curse Israel. The LORD tells Baalam to not go the first time but for the second visit of the princes God says this:

Num. 22:20-22:: God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him

This appears to be a contradiction. First he was permitted then rebuked by a donkey on the way.

We read in 2 Peter about those who have a heart trained in covetous practices:

2 Peter 2:15-16:: They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Have you ever wanted sometime so badly that the desires of your heart overtake you? God is a loving God but also he permits us to follow our own path. We might forsake the right way and go astray, as did Baalam. This is called free will. How many times can we reject temptation before the LORD tells us it is ok, when it is not? If we badger the Lord enough he might say ok. In the parable of the friend coming at midnight we see Yeshua telling us the friend will say yes because of persistence. We might be able to twist the Lord’s arm in this regard but there could be consequences. Also, we don’t know how much Satan was manipulating the situation in the background to make it appear God had contradicted himself.

Jude speaks of ungodly men who run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit. Baalam was a prophet for hire. In fact, a prophet for profit. We can still hear the word of the Lord yet follow a path destined for destruction.

— The three responses of the donkey to the angel with drawn sword

The donkey sees the angel of the LORD standing it their way and
1) turns aside out of the way and goes into the field
2) pushes Baalam’s foot against the wall in a narrow place
3) lays down under Baalam

The Lord said to Saul ‘it is hard for you to kick against the goads’ (Acts 9:5,26:14). A goad is an iron instrument used to prod an ox or other animal to turn it’s direction. In the case of Baalam’s donkey the sight of the drawn sword was sufficient motivation to turn off the path or get as far away from the sword as a wall would allow. When all else fails just stop and lay down. Baalam struck the poor donkey three times with his staff.

We are many times like the donkey. When trouble is ahead we turn aside and leave our path or push against a wall hard to get around. When we have no further option we just give up and lay down. We are that donkey. Baalam thought he was serving God but in actuality it was his own flesh. Paul probably got knocked off his horse because this animal saw God. Sometimes animals are more perceptive that our rational, rebellious minds. Even Apostle Paul himself acknowledges getting beat with the rod of men three times!

— The three calls to curse Israel

Why seven bulls and seven seven rams on seven altars? It was done in three places. 21 rams and 21 bulls in total.

Num. 24:2:: Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

What did Baalam see here? I put it to you he saw the cross! As Chuck Missler and others have noted in the past.

Herein was the third prophesy of Baalam. Before this it is stated ‘now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery (Num. 24:1). It was likely also the third day. The day of resurrection, not death. Baalam goes on to a fourth prophesy which speaks of Christ and even the end of days!

Deut. 23:4-6:: The Ammonite and Moabites … hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

The strong implication here is that Baalam wanted to curse Israel but was not allowed to do so for Balak had offered him gold and silver. He would have to resort to other methods to curse Israel. A much more subtle method, that is to corrupt Israel.

— What were the results of Baalam’s involvement with Israel?

Num. 25:1-3:: Israel remained in Acacia Grove,and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.

Remaining in an acacia grove might be pleasant because trees offer nice shade. I think there was also another enticement there offered by the pagan women.

Num. 31:16:: Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Even thought Baalam blessed and did not curse Israel he was part of the group that sent corruption into Israel by involving the hebrew men with the women at Baal of Peor. Because of this the captains of the army killed all of the males and also Baalam (vs. 9). Yet the kept the woman alive as booty. Moses was outraged at this because the woman were the ones seducing the men to tresspass against the LORD.

Have you ever met people who act so nice and friendly and seemingly only want to bless you? But behind your back they work sorcery and plot against you, to corrupt you and throw some sin in front of you hoping you would take the bait. Woman are not to only be blamed for this. Men can equally tempt you to sin through various temptations of the flesh.

Now we don’t go around killing everyone who tempts you.

James 1:14-15 says ‘each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

We are talking here about spiritual death, death to our plans, death to our whatever purpose God has called you unto. You might very well never get to the destiny God has planned for you. So it is always easier to blame others or even the proverbial ‘the devil made me do it’ when in actuality it is our own inner desire that has caused you to miss the mark. Our battles in Christ are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens (Eph. 6:12).

We can even hold bad doctrine. As in the case of the church at Pergamos:

I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality (Rev. 2:14)

Religion is no excuse to behave badly! In some cults they permit leaders to have multiple wives. Sin is still sin. I have a friend who won’t eat anything halal because he says it is sacrificed in the name of Allah. We all have our own convictions to bear. Personally, I believe anything sanctified by the word of God and prayer is clean.. for every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4:4-5).

But we should respect each others’ convictions. But for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ:

Rom. 14:3:: Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats …. and Rom. 14:13:: let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

For instance, both Sharon and I avoid all pork products. I had a wonderful salad Sunday at Sam’s Club but had to pick out the bacon bits. Just saying… the salad was still great without the pork.

I have strayed a bit from the stumbling block imposed by Balaam. The bottom line is we each need personal convictions but some things are black and white like sexual immorality. Greed and avarice can make us stray from the straight and narrow path even if we start out with good intentions.

Sources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Balaam-God-change-mind.html