Numbers 24:15-19: a reflection

15He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says; 16he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open: 17I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. 19Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

Even Balaam, the reluctant prophet, is given a glimpse of something glorious to come. I see him, he says, but not now; I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He foresees a coming ruler, a king, glimpsed from far off, a star and a scepter arising from among God's people. This promise, glimpsed from afar, points forward to the Messiah, the King who would come from Israel, fulfilled at last in Christ.

Notice the character of the promise: a coming King, seen from afar. Balaam saw him, but not now, not near; the fulfillment was far off. Yet the promise was sure: a star would come out of Jacob, a scepter rise out of Israel, a king who would come from among God's people. This promise, glimpsed from a great distance, was a thread of hope pointing forward through the centuries to the coming of the Messiah, the King, fulfilled in Christ, the star out of Jacob.

That promise, glimpsed from afar and fulfilled in Christ, is a reminder that God's great promises, though they may be seen only from a distance, are sure. Balaam saw the coming King from far off, not near; and the fulfillment came only after long centuries. But it came; the star did rise, the King did come, in Christ. God's promises are sure, even when we see them only from afar, even when their fulfillment seems distant. And the King whom Balaam glimpsed from a distance has come: Christ, the star out of Jacob, the promised ruler. Take hope from a promise so long in coming and yet fulfilled: God's word is sure, and his great promises, though glimpsed from afar, do come to pass. The star Balaam saw from a distance rose in Christ; trust that God's promises, however distant they seem, are as sure as the coming of the King whom Balaam foresaw from far off, and who has come, in Christ, the star out of Jacob and the scepter risen out of Israel.

Lord, even Balaam, the reluctant prophet, was given a glimpse of glory to come: I see him, but not now; I see him, but not near; a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter rise out of Israel. He foresaw a coming King, glimpsed from far off, pointing forward to the Messiah, fulfilled at last in Christ. Show me the character of the promise: a coming King, seen from afar. Balaam saw him, but not now, not near; the fulfillment was far off. Yet the promise was sure, a thread of hope pointing forward through the centuries to Christ, the star out of Jacob. Let that promise, glimpsed from afar and fulfilled in Christ, remind me that your great promises, though seen only from a distance, are sure. Balaam saw the coming King from far off; and the fulfillment came only after long centuries. But it came; the star did rise, the King did come, in Christ. Your promises are sure, even when I see them only from afar, even when their fulfillment seems distant. And the King whom Balaam glimpsed has come: Christ, the star out of Jacob. Help me take hope from a promise so long in coming and yet fulfilled: your word is sure, Lord, and your great promises, though glimpsed from afar, do come to pass. Help me trust your promises, however distant they seem, as sure as the coming of the King Balaam foresaw, who has come in Christ. Thank you for the promised King.