#DailyDevotion A Star Has Come Out In Jacob. A Scepter Has Risen In Israel

Thursday

Read Num 24:1–25

Num 24:9 … Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”…14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”…17 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.

 

Balak had called Balaam to curse Israel. Now three times Balaam had blessed Israel instead. He can only say that which the Lord had given him to say after the sacrifices. In verse nine, Balaam utters the words the Lord will curse those who curse you. Balak in his attempt to destroy Israel has now brought his own destruction upon himself and his people for the sought to curse Israel. Had he, or the Ammonites or the Edomites sought to bless Israel instead of seeking their destruction and their harm what a different end these peoples may have had. Ultimately they are defeated.

 

Now in Balaam’s prophecy is a word to the last days: a prophecy of the Messiah, a star of Jacob and a scepter of Israel. One might argue that David fits the fulfillment for at the end of his days he had conquered the all the lands for the people of Israel and brought them to peace which he handed over to Solomon. Yet, those were not the last days.

 

Peter in his Pentecost sermon declares that the falling of the Holy Spirit upon them showed the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of the last days. Indeed, with the coming of Jesus we entered into the period of the last days. He birth was foretold by a star in Matthew and no doubt the rabbis in the east, in Babylon and Persia relayed this prophecy to the Magi. That is why the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the Messiah, they had seen his star in the east.

 

Jesus’ ascent to the right hand of the Almighty shows the scepter had risen out of Israel. All power and authority had been given to him from the Father. The crushing of Moab and the sons of Sheth are symbolic of victory over sin, death and the power of the devil. The enemies of the people of God, his Church are defeated in Christ Jesus. We shall see this fulfillment with our own eyes when Jesus returns with all his angels and raptures, i.e. takes away all the wicked who will not trust in him or submit to him as their king to throw them in the Lake of Fire. But for all who trust in Jesus and look to him as their God and King, his peace shall rest upon them. Make sure that is you in your life today.

 

Heavenly Father, you foretold the coming of your son through the prophet Balaam. Give us ears that hear and eyes that see that fulfillment in your Son Jesus Christ. May we be in his kingdom now and when he returns in glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.