Advent: December 13th

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" (Num. 24:17-19 ESV)

This prophecy occurs in one of the most fascinating and humorous stories in the Bible for this is the story of Balaam attempting to curse the people of Israel. He had been hired by the king of Moab (Num. 22) and offered a large monetary reward for traveling a great distance of about 400 miles from the north (Num 23:7). Contrary to what many believe, Balaam was not a good person. He was not a prophet of God. He was by all accounts a worshipper of pagan gods. While Balaam appears to be a righteous person, speaking only what God commands, the Bible never speaks positively of him (Num 31:16; Dt 23:4-5; 2 Pet 2:15; Jude 11; Rev 2:14). Hence, the point of the story of Balaam and his talking donkey is to show that the God of creation is in sovereign control of everyone and everything, including pagan sorcerers and their donkeys.

During Balaam’s fourth and final oracle, his fourth attempt to curse the people of God, in part he says, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" Balaam sees a star rising out of Jacob, another name for the nation of Israel, and he sees a scepter, a king, rising out of Israel. This is likely the prophecy and the scripture passage the Magi were speaking of when they came to Herod in search of the infant Jesus. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." They saw the star rise over Jacob (Israel) and came in search of the newborn king. But what is also interesting is that Balaam goes on to say that this star which rises out of Israel “shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” Though this does not happen at Christ’s first advent, scripture tells us this will happen at his second advent. Someday the King will return at the head of an angelic army and will destroy all the enemies of God’s people (Rev. 19:11-16). During Advent we celebrate the first advent of the King of kings and Lord of all lords, and we look forward to the second advent when He will once for all destroy all the enemies of God’s people!

Photo by Max Beck on Unsplash