Numbers 23 & 24: Will You Believe In The Star?
Verse of the Day: (24:17) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
1. Seven (23:1-12)
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. (23:1)
Seven is God’s number and it means completion. Though Balaam completed all that God commanded him as he requested Balak to build him seven altars so that he could offer seven oxen and rams on each of the altar, yet he was actually conspiring with Balak to curse Israel. However, instead of cursing, God made Balaam to bless Israel. Many people, like Balaam, profess to be Christians actively serving God, but in fact, they are actually serving the Devil to get the best deal in their pursuit of material wealth. Indeed, only God knows our hearts, and let us search them that they be after His heart. (Acts 13:22-24)
2. Son (23:13-30)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (23:19)
No matter how much bribe Balak offered to Balaam, he could never get him to curse Israel, because God controlled Balaam’s mouth just like He controlled Balaam’s ass, and Balaam had to keep blessing Israel. Man, like Balaam, wavered between God and the Devil, the spiritual and the material, because man is a sinner and a creature made in God’s image. However, God is the Creator of everything, including man, and He never wavers but fulfils whatever He promises. We must therefore strive to be like Christ that we mean what we say from our hearts which are after God’s heart. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20)
3. Star (24:1-25)
And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. (24:10)
Though Balaam conspired against Balak, and attempted to curse Israel three times, yet God was with Israel, and instead of cursing, God made Balaam to bless Israel three times. In fact, God also used Balaam to prophesy the great coming of the Star or the Sceptre out of Israel, who was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Jesus shall have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven, and shall escape eternal condemnation. Indeed, nothing not even death, and no one, not even the devil, shall separate us from God’s eternal love! (Romans 8:31-39)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, the Star, God’s Son and my Saviour.
