Do you compromise with sin? What happens? Numbers 21-24

Numbers 23:1

​ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”

Balaam was a prophet of God who lived in the land that Israel was traveling through during the time of the Exodus of Israel.   Balak was a king of the Moabites at the time.  Balak feared Israel because they were so vast in number.  He assumed they would consume his country and people, and, more importantly, his power.    Yet, he knew he did not have the army big enough to defeat Israel.   Knowing of the prophet Balaam he as asked Balaam to come to him and curse the nation of Israel.   After Balaam is told by God to NOT go with him, Balaam continues to ask for permission and eventually goes to Balak.   In this going, despite God telling him no, Balaam tells Balak to set up a worship center experience.   Seven alters on which to offer seven bulls are to be constructed.    Balaam knew he was not supposed to be working for Balak, but he still went.   While their, Balaam made it look like it was a spiritual place with not one place of worship, but seven.  We like to camouflage our disobedience and make it look like spiritual worship, when in reality it is just feeding our own unrighteousness.  Notice what Peter says about Ballam in  2 Peter 2:15-16

... forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

When pursuing God's will we ought to be careful that we spiritualize something to clean up so that WE feel comfortable in the setting or with the decision, rather than follow God's will to begin with.  When God is in it we don't have to clean it up.   Balak entices Balaam to curse Israel three times.  In this first attempt Balak actually took him to the site of one of Balak's worship centers ... where they offered sacrifice to the Baals (false gods of the Moabites).   Balaam had lost his sensitivity to God the farther he got into this issue with Balak.   He was desensitized each step along the way.   God initially said no.   But, sin is like that.   We compromise a little and then, before we know it, we are consumed.