Numbers 24:17
I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of tumult. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Numbers 24:10-19
Balaam continues his blessing from our passage yesterday. This would be Balaam’s fourth blessing much to the dismay of Balak who had called Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam is compelled to speak the words that God gives him and this is his prophecy:
“I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of tumult” (Num 24:17).
Balaam sees a future ruler arising out of the tribe of Jacob. This ruler will batter the Moabites and destroy Sheth. This prophecy is partially fulfilled with King David as he “defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line” (2 Sam 8:2).
But ultimately this is a prophecy concerning Christ. The star is a symbol of power. But also Jesus was the Star that would come out of Jacob and literally make a new star shine in the sky (Matt 2:2). The scepter also speaks of the ruling power of Jesus.
Jesus was born from the line of Jacob through Jacob’s son Judah. And regarding Jesus second coming, he will rule all the nations not just Moab and Sheth and destroy the wicked.
My takeaway is in the person of Balaam. Balaam was called by Balak to curse Israel. Not only does Balaam not curse Israel but he blesses them and even speaks prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. God’s desires for us will always be done even when people are sent to harm us. God is more powerful than our enemies and if God doesn’t want us to be harmed then it won’t come to pass.
We should live with this in mind every day. God has our back. There is nothing to fear. The One who created the universe knows us and loves us. We would do good to live freely since that is the truth.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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