The way was narrow and Balaam ended up being hurt, but still the ass was determined to help her master no matter what it cost her. She eventually ended up flat on the ground and refused to move no matter how much Balaam hit her. Then God did something that only God can do. He allowed the donkey to talk. Can you imagine Balaam's surprise when she asked him why he was hitting her? Then God opened his eyes and he saw the angel. He then realized that the ass had saved his life.
How many times does God place things in our path to try to get our attention but because our minds and thoughts are focussed on something else he cannot reach us. We should never go ahead of God and do our own thing. We should always make sure that whatever we attempt to do for the Lord is exactly what He would have us to do and not what we want to do ourselves. Maybe you are trying to figure out what to do is a particular situation in your life today. If you are, be sure that you are 100% sure that what you do is exactly what God would have you to do.