They May Not be Looked At:
From this pasuk, we see how Hashem guides every detail of a Jew’s life and does not allow anyone to harm them, neither through actions or words, or even through a harmful look.
The Sforno explains Hashem’s words “do not go with them” to mean that even if he would not curse Klal Yisroel, Bilaam was also not allow to go with the men in order to look at them in a harmful way. From the Gemara (Shabbos 34A), we see that one can harm a person just with a look, and Hashem told Bilaam that he may not do this.
The Benefit of Embarrassment:
Another lesson we learn from this benefit is the benefit a person gets from experiencing shame. The Bas Ayin zy”a explains this pasuk to mean that Hashem first told Bilaam not to go with the messengers. Later, when Balak sent more distinguished men to get him, Hashem told Bilaam, “If men come to call you, get up and go with them.” Why did Hashem “change His mind”?
He answers by saying that Hashem wanted Bilaam to not only not curse the Jews, He also wanted him to bless them, as he ultimately did. However, it would have been impossible for the blessing of an impure man like Bilaam to be fulfilled. But after he experienced some embarrassment due to the incident with his donkey (as Rashi explains 22:29), he became a somewhat better person and was able to bless Klal Yisroel.
Accordingly, he explains that when Balak first sent messengers who were not so distinguished to get Bilaam, Hashem understood that he would not be so embarrassed in front of them and, therefore, he would still not be able to give his blessing. For this reason, Hashem did not allow him to go with them. However, when he sent more important ministers to get him, Hashem knew that Bilaam would be very embarrassed when his donkey disobeyed him in their presence, and this shame would make him enough of a better person to be able to bless Klal Yisroel. Therefore, He told him to go with them.
A Lack of Knowledge is no Excuse:
The Sanzer Rov zy”a once rebuked a certain Rov for not helping a very poor family in his city. The Rov tried to defend himself by saying, “It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t know how bad their situation is!”
The Sanzer Rov told him, “That is not an excuse. Bilaam tried to use this answer by telling the malach that he didn’t know he was there. However, we see that a lack of knowledge is not an excuse. This teaches us that every Rov and parnes must know who is in need in order to help them.”
