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Numbers 23:3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

Numbers 22:8
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

Stay here beside your burnt offering
Burnt offerings were a common practice in ancient Near Eastern religions, symbolizing devotion and seeking favor from deities. In the context of Israelite worship, burnt offerings were a means of atonement and dedication to God. Here, Balak's offering reflects his desire to manipulate divine favor, contrasting with the Israelite understanding of offerings as acts of obedience and worship.

while I meet the LORD over there
Balaam's intention to meet the LORD indicates a direct communication with the God of Israel, despite his pagan background. This encounter underscores the sovereignty of God, who can use even those outside the covenant community to fulfill His purposes. The phrase suggests a physical separation, emphasizing the holiness and distinctiveness of God's presence. It also foreshadows the unfolding narrative where God's will prevails over human schemes, aligning with the broader biblical theme of God's ultimate authority and the futility of opposing His plans.

- Balaam, though a pagan diviner, had already learned he could speak only what the LORD put in his mouth (Numbers 22:20; 23:5).

- Balak, king of Moab, stood anxious for a curse on Israel, but Balaam’s words reveal the superior authority of God over any earthly ruler (Psalm 115:3;Proverbs 21:30).

- Even in Balaam’s wavering heart, the prophetic office demanded obedience; the moment mirrors later warnings about his greed (2 Peter 2:15), yet here he outwardly submits to the LORD’s direction.

- Balaam instructs Balak to wait, echoing earlier scenes where God’s spokesman required patience from listeners (Exodus 24:14;1 Samuel 13:8).

- Waiting tests motives: Balak must accept that he cannot manipulate timing or outcome—God alone sets the agenda (Isaiah 40:31).

- Practical takeaway: faithful listening often begins with stillness before God rather than frantic action (Psalm 46:10).

- Balak had arranged seven altars and sacrifices (Numbers 23:1–2), imitating Israel’s worship yet lacking covenant relationship.

- Burnt offerings symbolized total surrender (Leviticus 1:3-4), but here they expose Balak’s attempt to buy divine favor, contrasting true heart devotion (Psalm 51:16-17).

- God later consumes Elijah’s sacrifice to display His reality over Baal (1 Kings 18:36-39); by comparison, Balak’s altar remains a mute testimony that ritual without righteousness is powerless.

- Balaam expects personal encounter: “Then the LORD met with Balaam” (Numbers 23:16). Scripture consistently pictures God initiating revelation to His servants (Exodus 25:22;Amos 3:7).

- Genuine prophecy involves receiving, not inventing, the message (Jeremiah 1:9). Balaam’s phrase underscores that the forthcoming oracle will carry divine authority, not human opinion.

- When we seek guidance, we too must prioritize meeting with the Lord before addressing people (Mark 1:35).

- The separation points to sacred space: Moses met God on a mountain apart from the camp (Exodus 34:2-3), and Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).

- Physical distance teaches spiritual reverence; Balaam cannot multitask worship of self-interest with hearing from God.

- For believers, a deliberate “over there” might be a quiet room or early-morning solitude where distractions fall away (Matthew 6:6).

Numbers 23:15 shows Balaam pausing the king’s expectations to seek the LORD alone. The verse emphasizes:

• God’s supreme authority over human agendas.

• The necessity of patient waiting and true surrender, not mere ritual.

• The pattern of setting apart time and space to hear from God.

Balak’s costly sacrifices could not sway heaven, but a single word from the LORD would determine Israel’s destiny. The scene invites every reader to trade manipulation for submission and to value meeting with God above all else.