seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Numbers 24:15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
18 Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur takes you captive.”
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Here's the link to the commentary.How lovely are your tents, O Jacob: This beautiful prophecy speaks of Israel’s blessed abundance, and the dominance over neighbor nations God will give Israel. Most of all, it speaks of the abiding blessing of God on Israel, and directly rebukes Balak for trying to curse Israel (cursed is he who curses you).
And now, indeed, I am going to my people: There was no preparation needed for this prophecy. Since Balak was not going to pay Balaam, Balaam would get back at him with a “free” prophecy, one that would show just how blessed Israel will be — both now and in the latter days.
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: This passage is a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah. Balaam could see Him, but not now.
So Balaam rose and departed: Undoubtedly, both were disappointed and perhaps angry, each because Israel had not been weakened spiritually and therefore made ready for defeat in battle. Balak wanted Israel defeated, and Balaam wanted Balak’s money, but each wanted Israel spiritually cursed as a way to get it, and God would not curse Israel.
First of all, look at verse 17. I'll come back to that in a minute.King Balek of Moab was afraid Moses and his refugees along with all the livestock, would settle in the next land or worse yet, come across the border into Moab. King Balak wanted Moses and his refugees with all the livestock disposed of. King Balak wanted to clean up the mess at his border.
King Balak offered a "prophet" named Balaam "untold riches", if Balaam would curse the Israelites so King Balak's Moab army could defeat them.
Balaam was warned not to go to Moab. God even made Balaam's donkey talk to him plainly in a language he could easily understand. Still Balaam could not turn down "untold riches".
Alas, Balaam could not deliver a curse on the Israelites. In fact, God got in Balaam's brain and mouth, so all Balaam could do was Bless Israel.
That pissed off King Balek and he told Balaam he would not be paid. Well once the "untold riches" was off the table, Balaam just could not stop with the blessings. And eventually... After seven attempts to curse turned into seven blessings, King Balek gave up and sent Balaam home penniless still.
Now look at verse 17. Balaam prophesized about Jesus!
Balaam was no longer in control of what he thought or said. If he had been in control, he would have uttered "curses untold" to get the "riches untold".
These Blessings are God's Words in Balaam's mouth.
As I read verse 17, I imagine God sitting at His Creation Bench and a young Jesus, Son of God, standing beside God. God can see the future. Jesus will be the star and Jesus will wield a Sceptor... but not now... Not while King Balak was trying to destroy Moses and the Israelites... but in the future. It's not time yet, the Israelites haven't finished the trip to Canaan. Jesus will come, but not yet.
I can imagine God saying to Jesus, "Oh Son, you're going to straighten all this out, but wait, let's let this play out and see if just one of these fools will change the future."
It would have taken a major miracle for King Balak and Balaam to pull off a curse. God wasn't going to give King Balak or Balaam the slightest chance to curse Israel.
Instead... God Blessed Israel!
Balaam lost out on "untold riches".
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