“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.” (Numbers 24:17. NIV). “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2. NIV). “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32-33. NIV). “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79. NIV). “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Off-spring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16. NIV).
The prophecy of Jesus as a “Star out of Jacob” was made, strangely enough, by Balaam, who was a non-Israelite prophet, soothsayer and magician whom God used to speak the truth. Recorded in Numbers, we have this account of the Israelites under Moses’ leadership encamped at Acacia Grove with the Moab nation all about them. King Balak of Moab engaged Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. We recall the story of Balaam’s donkey—how the animal saw the angel of the Lord in the road and refused to go forward. Balaam beat his donkey unmercifully, and the donkey spoke to his master. It was only then that Balaam saw the angel, heard the instructions the Lord had given, and went on to pronounce his oracles. It is in the fourth oracle that the Messianic prophecy is given: “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.” The prophet Balaam was given an amazing vision of one who would arise to be a Star—a brilliant and anointed leader, and with a scepter, a symbol of authority. This was joyful good news for the nation on its way to the promised land, with Moab to conquer. But, as the prophet Balaam stated, this Star, this Scepter was not for that present time, not near (in time). This joyful good news for Jacob and Israel would be a long way off and would be realized in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy. The Star and Scepter would not be another king like the earthly David. The enemy would not be the idolatrous nation of Moab. The conqueror would be the triumphant Jesus. The enemy He would conquer was sin and death. The expanse of His kingdom would not be just for Israel but to any “living in darkness and in the shadow of death.” The prophecy made by Balaam in the time of Moses was summarized in John’s vision given in Revelation. Jesus is, indeed, “the Root and Off-spring of David, the Bright Morning Star.” The breaking of a new dawn signifies hope and joy. And the bright Morning Star shines on all who come to that light! Selah!
c Ethlene Dyer Jones; Monday, December 20, 2010
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