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16. Prophecy From An Enemy


Numbers 24:5-7
Key Verse: "Their King will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted."
Numbers 24:7B

This is an amazing prophesy.  It seems to come out of the blue.  It was given by a man, Balaam, hired to curse the people of Israel.  Instead, he tells of Israel's great future, including its greatest king. 

Why in the world am I taking the time to highlight this event and this prophesy?  Why am I spending so much time on seemingly irrelevant stuff when I am supposed to be talking about the life of Jesus?  All I can do is ask you to please bear with me.  There will only be a few more days and Messiah will be here, I promise!  This event will be revealed in Jesus' life soon.  I wanted to point it out now so that when this prophesy is fulfilled, you will hopefully see other pieces of the puzzle fall into place as well. 

In this passage, we need to realize that the people of Israel have been wandering around in the desert for years.  They have broken free from slavery in Egypt and God is taking the time that He needs to work in them, a movement that He had begun with Abram.  He was creating a people for Himself.  He was taking the time needed to establish their identity as His.  They were to be unique.  Their worship would be different.  Their habits and lifestyles would be different from Egypt and all other surrounding, pagan cultures who do not know Him.  They practiced man made religion.  Israel would do things God's way. 

Now, Balak, a Moabite, an enemy of Israel wishes to attack them, because it appears that the people of Israel are about to take over his land, but he wishes for super natural help, thus he has hired Balaam, who is evidently a bit of a scoundrel himself, we might say witch doctor, to make Balak's job easier by putting a hex, or curse on Israel. 

Balaam, wants to comply because Balak is offering him a good sum of money.  However, he ends up doing the opposite because of an encounter he and his donkey have with God along the way.  (Numbers 22:1-35).  Balaam ends up declaring three times that Israel is blessed.  He declares that Israel will succeed and have a kingdom of its own someday.  Their wandering will cease and they will become great and powerful, much to the frustration of Balak who had hired him and hoped to send the people of Israel away in defeat. 

Finally, through the Spirit of the Lord, Balaam declares that the people of Israel will have a great king and through that king, Israel will be exalted.  Even Israel's enemies prophesy of Israel's Messiah, for Messiah is for more than Israel!  Messiah is for all who will believe!  When an enemy says that the king will be great, He will be great indeed!  Israel made this prophesy part of their own history.  It became another sign post to let them know that Messiah is coming.  God has not forgotten them.  Even after going to Egypt and wandering in the desert, God is still with them.  His promise is still intact.  Their deliverer was not Moses, as they may have suspected, but someone yet to come who will save all people. 

Prayer: There you go again God, you are the only God, and everything that you decree should happen will happen. Even when an enemy wants to defy you and destroy your people, when a false prophet wants to shout curses over Israel, you can compel him to proclaim the truth! We learn lessons on the importance of obedience, and the joy of being aligned with your will, the safest place on earth. Thank you, Jesus, amen.

Song: "God and God Alone" 

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