So Balaam continued on his way to meet with Balak. Even though he was a false prophet, Jehovah was going to use him in a manner that glorified HIM!
Numbers 22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border.
22:37 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?"
As we read, Balak did not or could not believe that Balaam would refuse his generous offer to come and curse Israel. His questions are very enlightening.
Balak urgently called Balaam. Balak perceived that he and his kingdom were in grave danger. To him, this was urgent.
Secondly, he could not understand Balaam’s reluctance and delay in coming.
Third, he had the financial resources that should have immediately attracted Balaam and Balaam should have known this.
In this narrative we can see how this type of exchange plays out even today. Balak is the typical worldly leader, devoid of Jehovah and full of himself. Balaam is a typical well-known, spiritual, religious advisor to heads of state, also completely devoid of Jehovah. He is in it for the prestige, money, and praise of men. Paul warned of these deceivers to Titus.
Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 1:11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
They are in it for what they get out of it, as worldly desires. All worthless.
22:38 So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
It would seem that Balaam suddenly become acutely aware of his false beliefs and unholy divinations. He now quotes Jehovah as if he worships Him.
22:40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
22:41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.
In this context, sacrificed does not have any unique spiritual connotations. It could also be translated slaughtered or killed, as for a meal.
So far, Balak hasn’t backed down on what he wants and Balaam is carefully choosing words so as not to once again anger Jehovah. But, as we will discover, Jehovah knows their hearts, and neither is close to Him. This is in effect lip service to Jehovah.
Matthew 15:7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
15:8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
15:9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'" In vain pertains to something totally worthless.
Balaam is feigning honor to Jehovah, but in his evil, wicked heart he is worshipping himself and his gods.
More next Saturday.