A STAR WILL COME OUT OF JACOB

Numbers 24:1-25 / Keywords 24:17

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.

 

24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

    who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a]

    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,

    your dwelling places, Israel!

6 “Like valleys they spread out,

    like gardens beside a river,

like aloes planted by the Lord,

    like cedars beside the waters.

7 Water will flow from their buckets;

    their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;

    their kingdom will be exalted.

8 “God brought them out of Egypt;

    they have the strength of a wild ox.

They devour hostile nations

    and break their bones in pieces;

    with their arrows they pierce them.

9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,

    like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed

    and those who curse you be cursed!”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

Balaam’s Fourth Message

15 Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

    who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17 “I see him, but not now;

    I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;

    a scepter will rise out of Israel.

He will crush the foreheads of Moab,

    the skulls[b] of[c] all the people of Sheth.[d]

18 Edom will be conquered;

    Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,

    but Israel will grow strong.

19 A ruler will come out of Jacob

    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,

    but their end will be utter destruction.”

Balaam’s Sixth Message

21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,

    your nest is set in a rock;

22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed

    when Ashur takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

23 Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[e]

24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;

they will subdue Ashur and Eber,

    but they too will come to ruin.”

25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

Footnotes

a. Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16

b. Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.

c. Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter

d. Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters

e. Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.

1. God opened Balaam’s spiritual eyes widely. Balaam saw that the people of God were beautiful and strong, though they were trodden with desert dust. They would triumph over hostile nations. To God’s eyes, his people are beautiful and strong, no matter how others may look at them. In God’s Spirit, Balaam continued to prophesy about the rise of a star of Jacob -- a scepter of Israel -- who would destroy his enemies. This star refers to King David (2Sa 8:2,14), but David didn’t completely destroy his enemies. The star of Jacob -- the scepter of Israel-- is the Messiah King who destroys his enemy Satan completely, and gives his people peace and freedom. Jesus is the bright Morning Star (Mt 2:9; 2Pe 1:19; Rev 22:16) who gives us hope. Jesus is the Savior King who rescues us and protects from our enemy Satan.

 

2. Balaam’s story reminds us that behind the scenes, Satan plots to harm and destroy God’s people. God not only protects his people but also blesses them through Christ Jesus, our King. Hence, “If God is for us, who can be against us” whom God has chosen (Ro 8:33)? Nobody. To God’s eyes, his people are beautiful. They are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for sending the Morning Star Jesus who protects us from Satan’s attacks and helps us to live a victorious life.

One Word Jesus, the Star and the Scepter