STRENGTH FOR VICTORY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come."

Then he uttered his oracle:

"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle 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:”

"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 sons of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."

Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle:

"Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last."

Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle:

"Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock; yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive."

Then he uttered his oracle:

"Ah, who can live when God does this? Ships will come from the shores of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin."

Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.

Numbers 24:14-25

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

"May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!" Numbers 24:9

You may remember that these words of God formed a promise that would come true over and over as we examine the history of Israel. And as Balaam delivers his final four oracles before leaving Balak, he tells some of what is about happen “in the days to come” for those who would choose to oppose Israel.

Of special interest in this passage, the “days to come” don’t only include the times ahead when the kings David, Saul, and Hezekiah would triumph over their enemies but also a time well after that when Jesus, the Messiah, would be born through which the final victory would be won forever.

For we read where tells of a "star” that would “come out of Jacob" and “a scepter” that would “rise out of Israel". Although Balaam could "see Him, but not now” and “behold Him” even though He wasn’t near, what was clear was that the victories would arise out of the star, a word that often was used to reference a king and in this case, Jesus, the King of kings who would come to reign with the full power and authority of His Father God.

Balaam goes onto mention the fate of those who would soon oppose Israel, some first time adversaries while others were repeat offenders.

First up was Edom. You’ll recall from Numbers, chapter 20, that Israel had wanted to cross through Edom but was not granted permission. In fact, the king of Edom was so disturbed by Israel’s size that he sent his army to the border to send a message that Israel wasn’t welcome. Unlike future opposing groups who Israel would battle against and defeat, Edom was left alone and went unchallenged.

In Balaam’s oracle, we see where this wouldn’t last for the scriptures tell us that the coming star was going to "crush…the skulls of all the sons of Sheth" and "Edom will be conquered; Seir (another word for Edom), his enemy, will be conquered".

But Edom wasn’t the only kingdom that would be crushed for Balak had to truly be disturbed when Balaam also said that the star would "crush the foreheads of Moab". Indeed, the very nation that Balak feared and thus wanted cursed would end up victorious over him and his people.

The next vision came against Amalek. You’ll maybe remember that the Amalekites were the first group that attacked Israel after they had departed Egypt on their exodus (Exodus 17). They didn’t gain victory then and they wouldn’t in the future either for Balaam prophesied that “Amalek…will come to ruin at last" and they did at the hands of Israel led by Kings Saul and David.

Next up were the Kenites, who although seemingly sheltered ("your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock"), would be destroyed not by Israel but rather Assyria ("Asshur") who would take them captive.

Finally, Balaam shares the seventh oracle which extends beyond the immediate boundaries of Canaan. Here, we read that "ships will come from the shores of Kittim (Cyprus and also referring to Rome). These forces would subdue Assyria, a mighty power who will later attack and capture Israel’s northern kingdom, and Eber, western Semites descended from Eber (Genesis 10), who settled in Canaan. But despite these victories, even the forces Balaam mentions would not be too mighty to be conquered for "they too” would “come to ruin".

Through Balaam’s last four oracles, we see a common theme and one we need to always keep in mind as we walk through our lives and face opposition, especially those who would oppose our faith. For Balaam said early on in this passage that when the enemies of Israel were weakened or destroyed, Israel itself became stronger (verse 18) and so it will be for us as well if we stay firm in our belief and trust in the Lord, no matter our circumstances. For through whatever life brings our way, God is ever there to lead us, guide us, protect us, strengthen us, and ultimately lead us to victory. In support of this truth, consider these wonderful passages from the Psalms:

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:1, 11-14

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their Stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him." Psalm 37:39-40

"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been my Refuge, a strong Tower against the foe. I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings." Psalm 61:2-4

"I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3

Friends, every day we walk through a spiritual battlefield where the enemy is always waiting to oppose and attack us. What a comfort it is to know that we believe, trust, and serve a Lord who is with us and for us, a Lord who always protects and brings us strength for victory now and forever more.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.