Numbers 22:32
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
The verse records the angel confronting Balaam after he struck his donkey three times, while the donkey saw the angel and turned aside three times though Balaam himself could not see him, and once his eyes were opened he stood beside the kneeling donkey terrified and bowing in humility. Balaam was beside himself with rage and blinded by passion, so that even the speaking of the donkey seemed nothing remarkable to him. His way was perverse before God in that he went with Balak's messengers to gratify covetousness for honor and gain and for promotion and rewards, pursuing his own chosen course rather than obeying God's command not to curse Israel and trying to serve both God and his own desire for reward. Those who held this latter emphasis add that he represents people who work against God by bringing selfishness and covetousness into sacred work while leaving God out of their hearts and plans, so that their own plans make them hindrances to God's work until obstacles are removed and room is made for divine influence.
God's anger was kindled at this presumptuous folly, so the angel was sent to stand in the way to withstand and block him and to slay him, and would have slain Balaam and spared the donkey if she had not turned aside. The angel's words explain why Balaam was opposed on the road and warn him impressively not to gratify the Moabites at Israel's expense, and after the warning he was permitted to pursue his journey. This permission was given so God would glorify His name even through the presumptuous Balaam before Israel's enemies by showing that a man of covetous disposition dared not for any promises of promotion or rewards pronounce a curse against Israel, which mattered because it was important to Israel to overcome the Moabites in order to overcome the inhabitants of Canaan.
The verse shows that God sees cruelty to animals and opposes it and will hold people accountable for it, with the angel standing ready to act against and destroy Balaam as he cruelly beat his donkey and speaking on the donkey's behalf. As the angel met Balaam on his way to curse Israel, God's unseen angels met Saul's messengers and Saul to prevent their murderous purpose against David, showing that the angel of the Lord can confront and restrain someone bent on evil. In the wider account Balak led Balaam from one point to another in the vain hope of turning Israel's blessing into a curse, succeeding no better through repeated efforts, showing that shifting place and pressure cannot move a person sustained by divine power, for whom human applause and fear of others are powerless to shake steadfast decision.