Numbers 22:18, commentary and pictures

The words were Balaam's answer to Balak's second embassy of more numerous and more exalted princes. In them he professed that even a house full of silver and gold could not move him to go beyond the word of the LORD his God, to do less or more, declaring that no reward however great could make him act against or disobey what God commanded. By calling the LORD his God he claimed to still be a prophet of God, though he had been a good man and a prophet who apostatized to covetousness and loved the wages of unrighteousness.

At the time he was double-minded, seeking to gain and retain the favor and honor of the enemies of the Lord for the sake of rewards, while the presents in the messengers' hands excited his covetous disposition. Fear of God's power restrained his covetousness, but his desire for honor and gain was still struggling for control and would have been indulged if he had dared. His claim of integrity concealed his longing to accept Balak's offer, for though claiming obedience to God he accepted the offered treasures and sought permission to please both God and Balak.

Though he already knew the right answer and God's will had already been made clear, he delayed the messengers overnight to inquire of the Lord again as if God could be persuaded. Then in the morning he reluctantly sent them away because the Lord would not suffer him to go, with the declaration that Israel was led under the banner of the God of Heaven and no human curse could retard their progress. Balak's repeated, vain efforts in conducting Balaam from one point to another to change Israel's blessing into a curse succeed no better than later attempts at compromise succeed against one sustained by divine power, for human applause and the fear of man are powerless to shake such a decision.

The verse warns that people can nevertheless work against God, as Balaam did, when selfishness and covetousness shape their choices and plans.