On the Road to Bethlehem #5: Power & Majesty

“And he took up his discourse and said,


‘The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,

who sees the vision of the Almighty,

falling down with his eyes uncovered:

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!’"

—Numbers 24:15-19

Jacob and his sons lived in Egypt for 430 years, multiplying from 75 individuals (Acts 7:14) to becoming “as numerous as the stars of heaven” (Deuteronomy 10:22). God raised up a deliverer, Moses, who led the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt into the wilderness as they prepared to take the Promised Land. But during their forty days of wandering in the wilderness, and failing to take the step of faith necessary required for them to conquer the Promised Land, God then subjected the nation to wandering in the wilderness for forty years (cf. Deuteronomy 14:20-38). In the fortieth year of the wandering, the king of Moab, Balak, who worried that Israel might cross his territorial boundaries, sent a delegation to hire Balaam, a man of international reputation, to curse the nation of Israel so that they would be defeated. But God had a different plan. Once Balak’s delegation arrived with their proposal, God came to Balaam in order to let him know that Israel could not be cursed because the people were blessed (Numbers 22:12). Balaam sent the delegation away, only to have them return a short time later with a more lucrative offer (Numbers 22:15-17). God came to him again and told him to go, provided that he say only what God indicated (Numbers 22:20).

Upon arriving, Balaam did what God told him Instead of cursing the nation, he blessed them (Numbers 23:7-10). Angered by Balaam’s blessing, Balak sought to change locations in order to effect a curse upon the nation. Once again, rather than elicit a cursing, God directed Balaam to pronounce a blessing (Numbers 23:18-24). Angered by Balaam’s pronouncement, Balak sought to change locations for a second time, still hoping for a different result. But it was futile. God had blessed this nation, much to Balak’s consternation, and Balaam’s pronouncement further exacerbated Balak’s anger. But Balaam wasn’t done yet, and he ended his episode with Balak by prophesying about Israel’s coming ruler,

“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 was prophesying about the ruler who was to come. The depiction of “star,” and “scepter,” are indicative of his ruling authority. When Balaam said, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near,” he saw the coming Messiah, but also saw that His coming was still a long way off. Nevertheless, He was coming. He would defeat Moab and break down the sons of Sheth—types and forerunners of all the nations who would oppose God’s saving promise plan. He would “exercise dominion” over all of them. This prophecy was not about His first Advent, but His second, when He would come in all of His majesty and power to judge the nations.

Balaam’s prophecy is another clue on the road to Bethlehem. God’s Messiah will come and will be a ruler who will not be defeated. All nations will be judged by Him and He will be the rightful King of all the universe. He will also be the one by whom God will judge the nations (cf. Micah 4:3).

As we consider the birth of our Savior this Advent season, may we be amazed at God’s saving promise plan! Jesus is the right and proper Ruler and He will judge the nations (Revelation 19:11). He is our Lord, our Savior, King, and glorious God! May we worship and adore Him! Amen.