(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 24:10–14, “And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.”
Balak was extremely angry and with good cause. He sent Balaam messengers because it wasn’t appropriate for a king to visit someone of lesser status. Balaam refused the first time but eventually came after the second invitation. Balaam may have said that he could not go beyond the commandment of the Lord but his actions indicated otherwise. We know that actions speak louder than words. Balak was entitled to make certain assumptions from the fact that Balaam came with his princes in spite of the fact that he said he couldn’t go beyond the commandment of the Lord. We have already seen that Balaam was greedy and was hoping to get the money even though he tried to protect himself by referring back to his statement. Now that Balaam had been found out he tried to exonerate himself by being sanctimonious. He pretended that he came with honourable motives but he was really covetous, seeking wealth and honour (see 2 Pet 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”) Finally Balaam’s conscience got the better of him when he discovered that he wouldn’t get the money he longed for and he told Balak the truth, as he should have done at first.
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