One More Blessing....Free of Charge

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Balaam Blesses Israel
by Abby I
We left Balaam humbled by his donkey and Balak anxious for Balaam's curse in Numbers 22.  Let's see how this history continues to develop...to the great horror of Balak, king of Moab.

 Scripture:  Numbers 23&24

 Balaam instructs Balak to build alters and prepare sacrifices to Yehovah, then Balaam "went to a barren height" (23:3) where "God met with Balaam"(23:4).  This meeting, and a few others, did not go as planned.  Balaam leaves this encounter with a blessing for Israel.  As a matter of fact, each time Balaam "goes up" to meet with Yehovah, the blessings get better!  I will not take the time to chronicle them individually here, but they are definitely worth reading:

 23:7-10
23:18-24
24:3-9 
24:15-19

 Keep in mind that these blessings are being uttered by a pagan sorcerer hired by a military enemy...to curse Israel!

 A few highlights...

 "Who can count Jacob's dust?  Who can number a fourth of Israel?" (23:10)

 "There is no sorcery effective against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel!" (23:23)

 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwellings, O Israel!" (24:5)

 "He who blesses you will be blessed, and he who curses you will be cursed." (24:9)  (compare to Genesis 12:3)

 By this time, Balak has had enough. "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them these three times!  Now go home!" (24:10-11)

 But before Balaam leaves, he has just one more blessing to share...free of charge...
  
"I see him, yet not at this moment.  I behold him, yet not in this location. For a star will come from Jacob, a scepter will arise from Israel." (24:17 underlined emphasis is mine)

 A star from Jacob...a scepter from Israel

 Sound familiar?

 This. Is. Yeshua! 

Yes!  Yeshua's "star" and "scepter" are prophesied by a pagan sorcerer while Israel is still wandering in the wilderness...THOUSANDS of years before His first and second advents. 

 The "star" has come (Matthew 2:2)!

 The "scepter" is coming (Revelation 22:16)!

 We can be sure that Yeshua came in His first advent.  Many of us make a big deal of celebrating that fulfilled prophesy during Sukkot and/or Christmas.  There is no doubt that the "star" prophesy is true! 

But...do we really believe that He is coming again to rule with His "scepter?"  Do we believe He is coming again?

 Most believers that I talk with DO believe that Yeshua is coming again...in word, but living out that belief is sometimes hard. 

Why is that?  Maybe it has something to do with...

 THOUSANDS. OF. YEARS.

 Waiting sometimes makes us feel like maybe we misunderstood the prophesy...or God changed His mind...or maybe scripture is just a work of fiction.

 Friends, do not fall prey to that line of thinking.  Live in confidence, knowing that the "star" was fulfilled over 2,000 years later.  

 The "scepter" WILL be fulfilled.  

He Is Coming Again! ( ☜ click for a GREAT song by Joshua Aaron)
















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