Balaam's Forth Oracle (Num. 24:15-25)

2/5/2009 10:09 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Balaam’s forth oracle

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 24:15-25

            Message of the verses:  “15 ¶ He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.  17  "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. 18 “Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. 19 “One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city."  20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction."  21 And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.  22 “Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?"  23 Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?  24 “But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction."  25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.”

            Balaam gives this oracle for free, as there are now no sacrifices given as in the other oracles.  “It is a remarkable thing that God gave this vision to a covetous Gentile soothsayer instead of to a dedicated Jewish prophet.  But He is sovereign all His ways, and His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-11).  This quote is from Warren Wiersbe’s book and it sums up my feelings about the oracles that were given by Balaam.

            This forth oracle is about Messiah, however some of the things written here were done by David but Jesus is surely the “Star” that comes forth from Jacob and He is the Scepter who comes from Israel.  Balaam goes on to tell some of the nations that will be destroyed by Israel, Amalek was already defeated by Israel, yet latter on it will be completely destroyed.  Balaam ends his oracle with verse twenty-four that is a very difficult verse to understand.  Dr. Roland B. Allen states of this verse, “One nation will rise and supplant another, only to face its own doom.  In contrast there is the implied ongoing blessing on the people of Israel and their sure promise of a future deliverer who will have the final victory…”  In Paul’s sermon at Mars hill in Athens found in Acts 17:24-28, “24  "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

25  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26  and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27  that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28  for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Living in the times that we are living in today in the USA it is comforting to know that it is God who is in charge of His universe and it is God who has made, and will keep all of His promises that He made to Israel and to His Church.  I am sure that there are difficult times ahead but God will see us through them and one day soon will come to receive His bride in the air above the earth.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Learn more of who the Lord is and have it affect me as I learn it.
2. Continue to learn contentment.
3. Trust the Lord to guide my path each day.

Memory verses:                                Continue to review Romans six.

2/5/2009 10:47 AM