When Balaam arrived with his entourage at the border of Moab, the king Balak met him with a royal welcome (Num. 22:36). Balak then took him up to a high place on a mountain so he could see a portion of Israel camped down in the valley. High places were thought to be closer to the gods and where it was easier to read the stars for astrology. The prophet instructs Balak to build seven altars to sacrifice a bull and a ram upon. Throughout history, bulls and rams were expensive and vital to survival, so to sacrifice them was a common form of remorse for sin and asking the gods for help or blessing (Lev. 1:3, 4). The number ‘seven’ represented perfection or completion. So, Balaam hoped the sacrifice would appease God, and Balak hoped they would manipulate God into cursing Israel. God isn’t impressed by performance or ceremony, but desires worship from a true heart (1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 15:8; 21:3 Is. 1:11). God desires your action and your motivation to match(John 4:23, 24).