Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

and honor had been dispelled, he exclaimed, "Go back to your land,
for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you."
Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15).
The sin of covetousness had destroyed his integrity, and through this
one fault Satan gained complete control of him. The tempter
constantly presents worldly gain and honor to lure people from the
service of God. This is how many people are persuaded to leave the
path of faithful honesty. One wrong step makes the next one easier,
and they become more and more careless. They will do the most
terrible things once they have given themselves to the control of
greed and desire for power. Many tell themselves that they can set
aside their honesty and faithfulness for a while and change their
mind when they please. They are tangling themselves up in Satan's
trap, and usually they do not escape.
When the messengers told Balak of the prophet's refusal, they
gave no hint that God had forbidden him. Supposing that Balaam's
delay was to obtain a richer reward, the king sent a bigger group of
princes who were more honorable than the first, with authority to
accept any conditions Balaam might demand. Balak's urgent
message was, "Please, let nothing hinder you from coming to me;
for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say
to me; Therefore please come, curse this people for me."
In response, Balaam professed great, honorable principles and
integrity--no amount of gold and silver could persuade him to go
against the will of God, but he longed to go along with the king's
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