22:9-14
Balaam does indeed meet with God, and God warns him against having anything to do with Balak. Israel is a blessed people. (BTW this does not mean they can get away with sin, as the whole of the Bible clearly demonstrates!) Balaam will end up blessing Israel, but there was no need for this as Israel was already blessed by God. The key thing he should have done was to refuse to go with Balak. AT first Balaam obeys God’s instruction and refuses to go to Balak.
22:15-21
Balak was not easily dissuaded from his course of action. So he sent more numerous and more honourable men, and also offers him more in reward, urging Balaam to reconsider. Balaam still refuses, saying that he cannot go beyond the command of the Lord. Indeed, he refers to “the Lord my God”. He does, however, consent to inquiring of the Lord again. This time the Lord tells Balaam to go with the men, so Balaam saddles his donkey and goes with the men. Now why did Balaam do this, and why did God tell him to go. Balaam is something of a mystery for there is some devotion to the Lord, at least in the words he uses, and to some extent in his actions, yet ultimately he disobeys. Why did God apparently change His mind? Was it to demonstrate to Balak that God does what He wants, He is not at the beck and call of anyone?
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