The most entertaining comedy show in the world is meant to teach us to make a Choizek (laughingstock) of all our “serious” problems and have Bitachon! Look how ludicrous Bilam looks when he has personal issues with his donkey and can’t get along with him. And then we have a silly donkey opening her mouth and putting Bilam in his place! I have heard of dog owners who have psychological therapy, the dog and the owner (both; it takes two to tangle). By the way, the donkey sees the Malach and Bilam does not.
I have no doubt that his Asson (donkey) is also a Mashal for: physicality. The very name chamor (donkey) symbolizes chumriyus: physicality. And the fact that Bilam lived with a donkey can for sure be a Remez how attached he was to Olam HaZeh and Gashmiyus and Ta'avos. He was constantly talking about Hashem — a real “frumie”. Yet, he is the lowest of the low, running after Kavod and money, and his life’s dream is to destroy Klal Yisroel.
