Numbers 22 · a question people ask
God told Balaam to go. Why was he angry when Balaam went?
The chapter gives the facts and one reason in the angel's words. God said, "rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do" (22:20). The next verse, "God’s anger burned because he went" (22:22). The angel says, "I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me" (22:32), and then sends him on with the same condition (22:35). Readers answer the puzzle in three main ways. All agree that God did say go (22:20), that he was angry "because he went" (22:22), and that Balaam went on only under the word God would give (22:35, 22:38).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
God saw why he went
Some read the anger as being at Balaam's heart on the road. The angel says, "your way is perverse before me" (22:32). Peter writes that Balaam "loved the wages of wrongdoing; but he was rebuked for his own disobedience" (2 Peter 2:15-16), and Jude speaks of "the error of Balaam for hire" (Jude 1:11). Revelation speaks of what he later taught Balak, "the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel" (Revelation 2:14; see Numbers 31:16). On this reading God allowed the journey (22:20) and was angry at what Balaam went for.
Numbers 22:32 · 2 Peter 2:15-16 · Jude 1:11 · Revelation 2:14
He asked again after a no
Others read 22:20 as God giving Balaam what he asked for a second time. God had said, "You shall not go with them" (22:12), and gave the reason, "for they are blessed" (22:12). Balaam asked again to "know what else the LORD will speak to me" (22:19). On this reading the anger is at the going itself, as 22:22 says: "God’s anger burned because he went."
Numbers 22:12 · Numbers 22:19 · Numbers 22:22
A warning for the road
Others read the angel as sent to hold Balaam to God's one condition before he reached Balak. The angel doesn't turn him back but says, "Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you" (22:35), the condition God had already given (22:20). And Balaam tells Balak, "I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth" (22:38).
Numbers 22:20 · Numbers 22:35 · Numbers 22:38
The verses
“God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.””
“God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.”
“The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.”
“The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”