Why Was Hashem Angry at Bilam/1/en
Why Was Hashem Angry at Bilam?
Introduction
Why Does Hashem Keep Changing His Mind?
Bemidbar 22 describes how Balak, the King of Moav, requests from Bilam that he curse the Children of Israel. Bilam consults with Hashem who refuses permission, telling Bilam:
לֹא תֵלֵךְ עִמָּהֶם לֹא תָאֹר אֶת הָעָם כִּי בָרוּךְ הוּא.
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
Upon hearing the message, Balak tries his luck again, sending a second set of servants to once again try and convince Bilam to curse the nation. Despite Hashem's earlier refusal, Bilam again seeks Hashem's consent, and somewhat surprisingly, receives a different answer:
וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל בִּלְעָם לַיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם לִקְרֹא לְךָ בָּאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים קוּם לֵךְ אִתָּם וְאַךְ אֶת הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אֹתוֹ תַעֲשֶׂה.
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.”
What makes Hashem change His mind? Has something happened that, this time around, Hashem allows Bilam to accompany the messengers? More perplexing than this change of heart, though, is Hashem's reaction when Bilam acts upon Hashem's permit. Right after Bilam departs with the Moabites, we are told that Hashem is filled with wrath. How is this reaction to be understood? Why is Hashem angry if Bilam is simply doing what he was told?
