Numbers 22:36: The king comes down to his own frontier to meet the man he sent for

Balak met Balaam at the frontier of his kingdom. Neither the king nor the prophet was in a good mood. Balak was offended, because Balaam had not been quick to do what he asked. Balaam felt that he was under restraint, and that things would not turn out as he and Balak wanted. Balak took his visitor to the town of Kirjath Huzoth, and there he offered oxen and sheep in front of Balaam and the princes who had fetched him from Mesopotamia. We are not told who Balak offered his sacrifices to. The one true God certainly had no place in his esteem.

He was not convinced that military power would be enough to stand against the conquerors of Sihon and Og. So he sent messengers to a well-known fortune-teller — Balaam the son of Beor, who lived in Mesopotamia. Outsiders were already crediting Israel's victories to divine power... In sending for Balaam, Balak sought to oppose the supernatural by the supernatural. The Mesopotamian prophet had a reputation for influence with the invisible world.

Two things stand out in Satan's attempt. The first is the dismay that filled Balak's mind when he saw the hosts of Israel. The second is the covetousness that ruled Balaam's soul. Balak sends for Balaam. At this early date we see the power of the world uniting with the religion of the world against what is of God... Here the secular asks help from the religious. Since then the religious has often called on the secular. But whichever one asked, the other always answered. They set aside every difference and jealousy between them to make common cause against the people of God.

God knows what is in Balaam's heart. He allows him to go forward, to expose him completely, and to turn his evil desire against His people into blessing for them. Balaam shows no real desire to turn back. Nor does it seem that God will let him go back. God has His own purpose: to make Balaam the unwilling vessel for declaring His thoughts about His people.

Later we shall see how wonderful God's way was. He turned Satan's own effort against him. He made this most wicked wretch Balaam work against all his own interests without meaning to. Held in the mighty hand of God, Balaam became the instrument for sealing the blessing of God upon His people, as far as a man could do it!

How little did Israel know or imagine what was going on between Jehovah and the enemy. Perhaps they were murmuring in their tents at the very moment when God was declaring their perfection through the mouth of the covetous prophet. Balak would gladly have Israel cursed; but, blessed be God, He will not allow anyone to curse His people. He may have to deal with them Himself, in secret, about many things. But He will not allow anyone else to speak a word against them.