Numbers 24 & 25, Luke 7: 11-35, Psalm 52
Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)
“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.”
When I first read verse 17 from Numbers 24, I immediately
saw these words as a prophecy of the future King David. But then I thought
about the “star” reference, and I saw the “star of Bethlehem” that rose when
Christ was born. This prophecy from Balaam, who wasn’t even Jewish and whom God
spoke to, was for both King David and Christ. Jesus came from the House of
David, so this prophecy is also a reference that a messiah would come from the
line of David. When I read through the Bible commentaries on this verse, the
authors noted that early Christian and Jewish writers understood that verse 17
was a reference to the coming Messiah. I love how God talked and used a pagan
seer to speak prophecy about his plans. God uses believers and non-believers as
part of his plan. I think as people of faith we tend to think that God has no
use for non-believers, but that’s not true. God created everyone, so why wouldn’t
he use all of us to fulfill his plan on earth? What this verse tells us is we
must never think we are not part of God’s plan. If God can use the pagan
prophet Balaam to further his plan, he will surely be able to use someone who
has faith in him.
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