Balaam's Confession and the Angel Who Reverses God's Word

"And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned" (Numbers 22:34). Balaam the wicked one leaped to confession, for he knew that there is none who can stand before fierce wrath except confession. "Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again" (ibid.). Balaam said: It is thus, that the Omnipresent says a thing and the angel reverses it — for He said to Abraham, "Take now thy son etc." (Genesis 22:2), and an angel reversed His command, as it is said, "And the angel of the LORD called unto him [a second time] out of heaven, and said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad etc." (ibid. 22:11–12). He too said to me, "Rise up, and go with the men" (Numbers 22:20), and now you wish to turn me back. If it displease thee because I am going, I will get me back — that is to say, even if it be not to go, that He may do all His own will. Therefore the angel said to him: Do you suppose that if you go, you will be under your own authority? No. And moreover, all these things that I did to you, I did only for your good; but since I see that you wish to go and to destroy yourself, "Go with the men" (Numbers 22:35) — that is to say, your portion shall be with them.