Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
The verse is Balaam's second-night invitation to Balak's messengers to remain overnight with him while he sought to learn what more the Lord would say to him. He made that request even though God's will had already been made plain that he should not go, and he already knew he should refuse the offer. His asking again after direction had been given belongs to a course of working against God.
The request came from longing to accept Balak's offer, for presents had excited his covetousness and desire for the promised gifts, honor, favor and rewards shaped his response. He was anxious to be granted the privilege of going, and the delay in sending the messengers away let him entertain the temptation. Though once a prophet of God, he had become double-minded, professing loyalty to God while seeking to gain and retain the favor of God's enemies. In following his own inclination he was attempting to please both God and man.
Fear of God's power still restrained his covetous disposition, but love of honor and gain was striving hard for mastery, which he did not subdue. He would have gratified his covetousness if he had dared. By seeking another answer he acted as though God could be persuaded like a man, with selfishness and covetousness shaping his plans. God suffered him to have his own way by giving a conditional permission.
He then abused that permission by going in the morning even without being called, an act of presumptuous folly. The verse belongs to the episode in which Balak led Balaam from one point to another in the vain hope of turning the blessing of Israel into a curse. That failure is paralleled by the failure to move Luther, showing that human applause and fear of man are alike powerless to shake steadfast obedience when sustained by divine power.
The verse is Balaam's second-night invitation to Balak's messengers to remain overnight with him while he sought to learn what more the Lord would say to him. He made that request even though God's will had already been made plain that he should not go, and he already knew he should refuse the offer. His asking again after direction had been given belongs to a course of working against God.
The request came from longing to accept Balak's offer, for presents had excited his covetousness and desire for the promised gifts, honor, favor and rewards shaped his response. He was anxious to be granted the privilege of going, and the delay in sending the messengers away let him entertain the temptation. Though once a prophet of God, he had become double-minded, professing loyalty to God while seeking to gain and retain the favor of God's enemies. In following his own inclination he was attempting to please both God and man.
Fear of God's power still restrained his covetous disposition, but love of honor and gain was striving hard for mastery, which he did not subdue. He would have gratified his covetousness if he had dared. By seeking another answer he acted as though God could be persuaded like a man, with selfishness and covetousness shaping his plans. God suffered him to have his own way by giving a conditional permission.
He then abused that permission by going in the morning even without being called, an act of presumptuous folly. The verse belongs to the episode in which Balak led Balaam from one point to another in the vain hope of turning the blessing of Israel into a curse. That failure is paralleled by the failure to move Luther, showing that human applause and fear of man are alike powerless to shake steadfast obedience when sustained by divine power.