And it came to pass, in the wilderness of Sinai, on the second year after coming out of Egypt, the LORD said to Moses. Go to your congregations and tribes and find every male over twenty years old who might serve in army of Israel if it comes to that.
So Moses assembled all the congregation together and told them to meet in tabernacle, all the leaders journeyed to the tabernacle, brought offerings to the LORD and planned strategies and such. Everyone was enthusiastic.

However there was some distent, things weren't as easy as they wanted, they had trouble getting food, the LORD only spoke through Moses, some said they would have been better off if they had never left Egypt and that kind of thing.

God came to Balaam, and Balaam said to God, some people who come out of Egypt curse me but I shall drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, You shalt not go with them, and you shalt not curse these people: for they are blessed.
So Balaam said to the princes of Balak, the LORD refused to let me go with you. And more, and more honorable men came to convince Balaam to go with them. Balaam eventually caved, in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

God was angary because he went, and he sent an angel who stood in the way. Balaam was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
The ass saw the angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn. The ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, Balaam hit the ass, to turn her into the way.
But the angel stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he hit her again.
And the angel stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was fired up, and he hit the ass with a staff.

And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done to you, that you hit me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because you have mocked me: I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill you.
And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I your ass, upon which you have ridden ever since? have I ever failed you? And he said, Nay.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

The MORAL of the story is: Take Council from everyone, than make up your own mind, sometimes an ass has something to say!