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The story of Balaam and the angel is a good example of some of the problems experienced by God. Being extremely old, senility occasionally leads to some misunderstandings.
"And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho." "And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites." "And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel." "And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time." "He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:" "Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." [Numb 22:1-6]
"And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak." "And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam." "And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?" "And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying," "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out." [Numb 22: 7-11]
God, of course, forbids the cursing of his chosen race, and tells Balaam not to go.
"And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you." "And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us." [Numb 22: 8-14]
Balak tries again.
"And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they." "And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:" "For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people." "And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more." [Numb 22: 15-18]
The ever-loyal Balaam asks God about the new visitors, and this time gets permission to go.
"Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more." "And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab." [Num 22: 19-21]
Unfortunately for Balaam, when God got up in the morning, he had forgotten about their conversation.
"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." [Num 22: 22]
After a strange episode involving a talking ass, and an angel bent on killing Balaam, there is a happy ending. The angel also gives Balaam permission to go, and God gets his head straight.
"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." [Numb 22: 34-35]
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