This story regarding Balaam is a familiar one
Num. 22:21–33 —ESV
“So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
¶ But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
¶ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.””
Balaam ever greedy for gain had gone with the princes of Moab to curse the people of God
Angered God set his Angel with a sword to kill Balaam should he continue on his journey and plan to curse Israel
Balaam's Donkey however able to see the Angel of the Lord and his sword refused to go further
The donkey had prevented Balaam from being killed
Peter speaking of this writes the Donkey had restrained the prophets madness
2 Pet. 2:15–16 —ESV
“Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”
but the prophet was restrained because God had set an Angel in Balaam's path with a purpose to kill him if he continued in his plan
So it was God who had restrained Balaam and the donkey was God's instrument to effect this
What has this to do with free will ?
Ask yourself this question if God casually determines every thought, desire and deed of man what is there to restrain but his own determinations ?
That makes no sense at all
Num. 22:21–33 —ESV
“So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
¶ But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
¶ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.””
Balaam ever greedy for gain had gone with the princes of Moab to curse the people of God
Angered God set his Angel with a sword to kill Balaam should he continue on his journey and plan to curse Israel
Balaam's Donkey however able to see the Angel of the Lord and his sword refused to go further
The donkey had prevented Balaam from being killed
Peter speaking of this writes the Donkey had restrained the prophets madness
2 Pet. 2:15–16 —ESV
“Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”
but the prophet was restrained because God had set an Angel in Balaam's path with a purpose to kill him if he continued in his plan
So it was God who had restrained Balaam and the donkey was God's instrument to effect this
What has this to do with free will ?
Ask yourself this question if God casually determines every thought, desire and deed of man what is there to restrain but his own determinations ?
That makes no sense at all