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.
Balaam repented (“I have sinned”) and changed his mind (“I will get me back”). But to get him to do the right thing it took the miracles of an angelic appearance and a talking donkey. The angel of the Lord stood in the path; the donkey saw it and tried to turn aside three times; Balaam beat the donkey three times; the donkey spoke; Balaam saw and heard the angel; then he repented.
As it turned out, the Lord let him go, but only if he speaks the words God speaks. By God’s Active Love, he was a changed man and would say what God said. He had to despise the money and the world’s temptations, and love God and do what He says instead. It’s not easy to change the mind of a greedy, selfish sinner. God had to miraculously intervene and open his eyes to see and his ears to hear. This changed man blessed God’s people and prophesied Christ.
It may be hard to admit, but we are like Balaam, and our loving Lord has to go to extreme lengths and perform a miracle to bring about repentance and change. Miraculously, the Spirit opens our eyes to see Jesus clearly and opens ours ears to hear the gospel convincingly. We respond with repentance and faith and enter the kingdom. Then the Spirit inspires us to speak words of blessing.