Num 22:31-34

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam,
and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand;
and he bowed all the way to the ground.

The angel of the LORD said to him,
“Why have you struck your donkey these three times?
Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.

“But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times.
If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”

Balaam said to the angel of the LORD,
“I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me.
Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”

But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam,
“Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.”
So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

The Angel of the Lord now speaks to Balaam.
He questions - “why have you struck the donkey…?”
He explains - “I have come out as an adversary”
He explains further - “because your way was contrary to me”

Remember, the Lord had told Balaam what to do - not go with the men.
When more men returned, Balaam sought a change of mind from the Lord.
The Lord did not change His mind, but He did give Balaam the opportunity to make his own decision.
Balaam chose to go.
God gave him the rope…

The Angel of the Lord describes this as “contrary to me”.

Do not live contrary to the Lord!

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