News of Israel's victories had reached Balak and filled him with fear, so he sought to take steps to stop Israel. He called Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on Israel. Curse here is used in the pagan sense of putting a spell on someone. When the Bible speaks of God putting a curse on someone or something it means God's judgement on sin.
Balaam had a mixture of Jewish and pagan practices and was not a man of God as such, but was in some way open to God. So in response to Balak's request he sought the Lord. If he had truly known the Lord he would have refused the request point blank, but he saw his "powers" as a means of making money.
God did speak to Balaam and told him not to put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam passed this message on to Balak's messengers. Balak sent seven more officials to Balaam to try and get a different answer, offering to reward him handsomely.
Balaam tells Balak that he cannot overrule God, but also says he will consult further with the Lord. The Lord appeared to him and told to go with Balak's men.
So Balaam went with the men. God then became angry with Balaam and spoke to Balaam through a donkey. Now all this seems rather strange because on the one hand Balaam seems to be acting in response to God's word, and on the other, God is angry with him. Then when Balaam realises that God is opposing him he repents, but God continues to tell him to go with the men.
Perhaps the point of all this is to make sure Balaam realises that God is on the side of the Israelites.
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