Christ in all the scriptures Moses to all God's people

 Christ in all the scriptures

Deuteronomy

One of the simplest outlines of the book is to trace specific references to God's word at the beginning of each section.

Deuteronomy 1v1     "These are the words..."

Deuteronomy 4v44   "This is the law..."

Deuteronomy 6v1     "This is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments..."

Deuteronomy 29v1   "These are the words of the covenant..."

Deuteronomy 33v1   "This is the blessing..."

Another simple way of understanding it is, as follows, by many commentators:

Looking back        chapters 1-4            Historical review

Looking up            chapters 5-29         Present responsibilities

Looking forward   chapters 30-33        Future rewards

The first observation is that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel

This fact occurs at least 12 times throughout the book-1v1l; 27v1v9; 29v2; 31v1v7v9v11v28v30; 32v44v45.  The words of the Lord were to all Israel, not some things to one tribe and another to a different tribe, but the same words to all the people.  This is important to observe in present days when the body of Christ is splintered into a multitude of groups, each one claiming to be representative of the true church.  False tenets have arisen, with unscriptural phrases like, "the autonomy of the local church".  This has led to the error exposed in the book of Judges, when, "In those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which is right in their own eyes".  This is a concept concocted by men attempting to justify their  particular view of the word of the Lord.  All it has produced is a disunited church contrary to the scriptures.  What we should be talking about is every church conformity, not one church autonomy.  It may be a well meaning concept, but sadly out of line with the tenor of scripture. 

The word of the Lord is the same for all God's people, in every location, and in every culture.  Paul, writing to the Corinthians, made clear that what he was writing to Corinth, locally, applied to every church universally. "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.....unto the church of God which is at Corinth...with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord-1st Cor. 1v1-2  The instructions he gave were for all churches.  He goes on to say in 1v10, "I beseech you, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions (schisms) among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment".  Back then the schisms were within one church, now they are divided churches in one locality.  We have strayed a long way from the will of the Lord for His people on earth.

Paul continues this theme throughout 1st Corinthians another six times, giving a sevenfold assertion of the unity of all churches:  4v17, "...as I teach everywhere in every church"; 7v17, "...and so ordain I in all churches"; 11v16, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God"; 14v33, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints"; 14v34, "Let your women keep silence in the churches..."; 16v1, "...as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye".  There is no doubt the word of the Lord is the same to all churches, just as the teaching of Moses was the same to all Israel.  This is not speaking of uniformity, rather is it a call to unity.

The book of Deuteronomy records in chapter 27, the conformity of all Israel to the words of Moses, in the oft repeated phrase, "And all the people of Israel shall say, Amen".....   (27v15v16v17v18v19v20v21v22v23v24v25v26). 

The New Testament requires the same of the saints of God today:

The great Commission Matthew 28v19-20  "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen".

The apostles doctrine  1st Corinthians 14v36-37 "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?  If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord".

The Spirit to the churches  Revelation 2v3v11v17v29; 3v6v13v22  "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches".

The Lord is speaking today, He is speaking to us individually, and corporately.  His words are life and blessing.  Will He have our Amen?!  

Christ in all the scriptures The law of Moses

 Christ in all the scriptures

 The law expounded by Moses   Deuteronomy 1

"On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law..." Deut.1v5.

The word declare is, in the Hebrew is baw-ar, and means to dig, to engrave.  This suggests an in depth proclamation, a detailed exposition of the law of God.  It's usage elsewhere in scripture confirms this: Deut. 27v8, referring to the tablets of stone, "Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly"; Habakkuk 2v2, "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it".  Some commentators render it "explain", Darby translated it "unfold".  Like the law was engraved, set in stone, so the repetition of it and application of it to the new land must be plainly understood, and accepted by all.  This was for Israel, and through them to the whole earth (Deut. 32v1 and others).   As something that must be made plain to Israel and to the whole world, it behoves us to familiarise ourselves with its contents.

The Law of God

The law reflects the character of God.  Romans 7v12, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good".   God is holy, God is just, and God is good.  His law is not arbitrary or capricious.  It is unchangeable and imperative for us all.

The law makes ethical and moral demands on humanity before God, to whom we are accountable, because we are made in the image of God (Thou shalt...thou shalt not). 

The law is righteous  (Deut. 4v8; Psalm 119v137)  that is it satisfies the demands of God and is fair and just to all men.

The law is perfect (that is mature) and is able to change lives as nothing else can (Psalm 19v7).

The law is eternal  It will outlast the universe, and stand as the framework for godly living to perpetuity-Matthew 24v35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away".

Adherence to the law will issue in blessing or cursing  Deuteronomy 27/28.  Blessing is the state of total wellbeing; cursing, the loss of wellbeing.

The law cannot save us  James 2v10, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point is guilty of the whole".  No one has kept the law, even Moses disobeyed.  The conclusion of scripture is, "there is none righteous, no not one"-Romans 3v10.

The law was designed and given to prove no one could ever keep it  Romans 5v20, "The law entered (was introduced) that the offence might abound (to prove the powerful nature of sin).  Thus the need for salvation was made clear, and only God can provide it.

The law fulfilled in Jesus

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law , till all be fulfilled"-Matthew 5v17-18.

"What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh"-Romans 8v3.  In boundless grace, God sent His Son to do what no man could ever do.

The law brought a curse upon mankind because of sin: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them...Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us...that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ..."-Galatians 3v10-14.   Christ took the curse for us and there is only blessing!  Through Moses He gave the law to Israel, and through Israel to the world.  As it is written, "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"-John 1v17

God gave the law to Moses; Moses expounded it in graphic detail to Israel; Israel, through Christ and the apostles transmitted it to the world.  Now sin has been deposed, and "grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord".  Praise God!  What a plan! what a beautiful design, what a triumph!  Acts 13v39, "By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses!"

The law fulfilled in us

It was necessary for the law to emerge first, so that we could understand our need of the Saviour Jesus Christ.  Now we can keep the law, not for salvation, but for progressive sanctification; as Paul wrote, "That the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"-Romans 8v4.

Christ in all the scriptures Deuteronomy overview

 Christ in all the scriptures

Christ in Deuteronomy  The words of eternal life!

Like all the books of the bible, the key to the understanding of Deuteronomy is hung up at the beginning:

"These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red Sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab"-Deuteronomy 1v1.

Deuteronomy is the Hebrew dabharim meaning "the words"; the phrase Elle haddabharim translates "these are the words", which are the first words of the book.  Thus the entire book is the words of Moses to Israel prior to entering the land.  Indeed they are the last words of Moses, since he dies at the end of the book, making them even more significant.

In fact the book contains the three last sermons of Moses, followed by a farewell benediction. The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) has Deuteronomy as "the second law", meaning, not a different law, but a reiteration of the unchanging law of God to all peoples.  One of the key words in the book is "remember", calling on all Israel to view the past as key to the future."

Remember what you were!  5v15.  Remember what God did to Pharoah!   7v18.  Remember all the way the Lord led you!  8v2.  Remember, and forget not, how you provoked the Lord!  9v7.  Remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life!   16v3.  Remember what the Lord did to Miriam!  24v9.  Remember what Amalek did to you!  25v17.  Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations!  32v7.

Thus the book is a call to remember all the past as it points to a better future. 

Chapters 1-3       1st sermon       Historical....learn from past events

Chapters 4-26     2nd sermon      Didactical....obey the law, the statutes and judgments

Chapters 27-30   3rd sermon       Prophetical....the land is before you, go in and possess it 

Finally, Chapters 31-34  Farewell blessings.

Moses' words were the very words of God to all the people of Israel, and he calls them to heed them-1v1; 4v1; 5v1; 5v22; 6v1; 8v1; 12v1; 27v1; 29v1.  God is speaking to Israel, and to the whole earth through Israel (32v1).

All this points to Jesus Christ as "The prophet like unto Moses" in the New Testament.

"God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in times past unto the fathers through the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by (in) His Son..."Hebrews 1v1.

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven..." John 17v1.                               "I have given them the words which thou gavest me..." John 17v8                                            "I have given them thy word..." John 17v14                                                                             "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples...John 18v1               "...wholesome words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness" 1st Timothy 6v3

Indeed the entire New Testament is about the words of Christ, whose words are authoritative and decisive for Christians.  The book of Revelation is almost entirely the words of Christ, transmitted through an angel to John the apostle and the warning is declared at the end, not to add to or diminish from these words.  This makes the meaning of every word to be precious to every believer, and the study of them, and the practice of them, to be our life's commitment.

The book of Deuteronomy reveals God fulfilling His obligations to mankind (His faithfulness and covenant promises).  The thought that the sovereign God has obligated Himself to humanity is awesome in itself!  In light of that, He also expects human beings to become obligated to Him.  It is recorded in Acts 3v22, "Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like unto me: Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you".   

Jesus commissioned His apostles, "Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v19/20.

Peter said, "Thou hast the words of eternal life!"-John 6v68.  The Lord has fulfilled His obligations to us, will we return the compliment?  

Christ in all the scriptures In sight of the promised land

 Christ in all the scriptures

On the threshold of the promised land     Numbers 26-36

Chapter 25 ends the narrative of the first generation coming out of Egypt, and opens with the numbering, the organisation, and the legislation of the new generation of Israelites. The first generation ended in disaster with only two men, out of a total of over 600,000 warriors, allowed to enter the promised land (Numbers 26v64-65).  It is difficult to know how to interpret this phase in Israel's history, as to their status before God.  Were they saved people, and was their destruction for this life only?  The New Testament suggests they were unbelievers-refer Jude 1v5, "The Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" (this in the context of false profession of faith).  Again Hebrews 3/4 suggests the same..."I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart: and they have not known my ways.  So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest"-Hebrews 3v10; also v13 speaks of an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God", and v14-18 expand upon it.  To balance that out we must mention that because of one sinful act Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land-27v12-14.  There is no way to equate the solitary failure of Moses with the persistent rebellion of the generation.  It would seem, therefore that this people have perished eternally.  We must mark the solemnity of this.  It is tragically possible to live with the people of God, to be involved in all the ritual of worship to God, even fighting wars for the cause, and yet to perish.  True belief is never presented in scripture in terms of profession, rather in terms of heart obedience.

Chapters 26-36 establish the new generation under God's covenant promises.  God has punished the old generation but He maintains, in gracious mercy, His dealings with Israel.  As Paul said in Romans 3v3, "For what if some did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect?  God forbid!"  Faith in God is in the heart, not based on externals which may pander to the glory of man.  The chapters contain a comprehensive summary of the benefits and responsibilities of the nation for life in the promised land.

Chapter 26   Census of the men of war for the defence of the realm.  Inheritance of the portions of the land, and the census of the Levites for religious work.

Chapter 27  Provision for continuous family inheritance as per the daughters of Zelophehad, descendants of Joseph.  Denial of Moses to enter the promised land.  Promotion of Joshua to leadership.

Chapter 28  The order and importance of the offerings in Divine worship.

Chapter 29  Eight days of holy convocation in the set feasts of Israel.

Chapter 30  Laws concerning vows unto the Lord.

Chapter 31  War against Midian who vexed the children of Israel.  Spoils of victory shared.

Chapter 32 Allocation of land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Chapter 33 Account of every journey made by Israel since leaving Egypt.  The past is gone but not forgotten.

Chapter 34 Division of the land inheritance to remainder of the twelve tribes.

Chapter 35 Cities for Levites and cities of refuge.

Chapter 36 Further laws for inheritance.

There are many lessons for the people of God in these final chapters of Numbers, as we are all on a journey to the promised land, and, indeed we are on the verge of it in these last days. Clearly God is assuring them of the certainty of their new life.  Despite their many failures, since redemption from Egypt's slavery, they will possess the land.  At this late time when this is being opposed from many quarters, God's people will prevail, and the promised land, the subject of endless disputes, will become a reality.

The book ends with this summary, "These are the commandments and the judgments which the Lord commanded by the hands of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plain of Moab by Jordan, near Jericho".

Like Israel, we, God's people, are heading to a new life, and we are now on the verge of it, as is clear from world trends and events.  Like Moses, then Joshua, our Lord is "bringing many sons to glory", and He has left commandments and judgments for us on the way.  The New Testament abounds with the fact that our Lord has left instructions for our lives on the way to glory.  We can tabulate a few of them here, readers can expand them and define them at leisure.  There is a tendency, in this day of free grace to think there are no commandments any more since our Lord has fulfilled them all.  Nothing is further from the truth as the following scriptures declare:

"All that Jesus began to do and to teach.  Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen!-Acts 1v1-2

These same apostles have given commandments to us, "That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour"-2nd Peter 3v2.  

"If ye love me keep my commandments", Jesus said in John 14v15; "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you"-John 15v12.  In 1st John 4v22-25 the apostle John says, "And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave us commandment".

He has left us commandments and judgments, just as He gave to Israel for life in the new land.  Commandments are to be obeyed, not questioned or ignored.  There are commandments regulating personal morality; others for corporate gatherings, how to organise to ensure order and decency in church life; and yet others regulating behaviour in society for good public witness.  Readers should familiarise themselves with these and follow them.  These should be taught regularly in the course of any year.  Judgments are decisions involving two or more differing positions.  God's judgments are perfect and fair and unbiased, there is no respect of persons with God.  We have been given amazing resources to enable us to walk worthy of our high calling.  We have within the Spirit of God to guide us.  We have the written word of God to instruct us.  We have access at any time to the Sovereign throne of the universe.  We have the love of each other to share in all things.  His commandments are not grievous, His yoke is easy, His burden is light.  We can find rest in the midst of trials, and the prospect before us, as we journey to the glory, is beyond anything this world can give us

Like Israel in the latter part of the book of Numbers, we are on the threshold of the land flowing with milk and honey, and that alone should adjust our attitude to good living.    

Christ in all the scriptures Divine anger averted

 Christ in all the scripture

  "Zealous for my sake among them"  Numbers 25

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab"-Numbers 25v1.

The word abode (yashab) is strong and suggests a settling down, a couching, a resting.  This, at a time when they should have been alert for their rest was in the promised land, not Moab.  The place where they rested-Shittim (acacia groves)- should have reminded them as the tabernacle was constructed with shittim wood.  Perhaps it was this relaxation which caused their downfall.  Scripture abounds with examples of failure after success.  Noah, the preacher of righteousness, when he came through the flood in the restored earth, was found drunken in his tent.  Elijah the prophet, who withstood 850 prophets on Mount Carmel, went into depression in a cave at the threat of a woman.  It was while king David rested following the victories against the house of Saul, and all Israel's enemies, that he succumbed to temptation, in illicit consort with Bathsheba (2nd Samuel 11), with disastrous consequences.  The New Testament bristles with appeals to stay on our guard, to remain alert for there is no rest for us here in this world.

It was while they rested on the borders of Moab that the promiscuous women of Moab seduced them.  This appeared to be a simple case of Israel falling into temptation, but it was more than that; it was a trap set by Balaam.  Numbers 31v16 relates the depravity of Baal-peor in Moab to the counsel of Balaam.  We would not know it from the reading of chapter 24, but Balaam either remained long enough to provide Balak with a plan for their downfall, or, he had been double speaking all along...saying one thing in public, and another in private.  Balaam could not turn God against Israel (no one can); however he succeeded in turning Israel against God, thus bringing the wrath of God upon them.  This is the ploy of Satan, who will try every way to bring God's people down.  The extent of this departure is printed in holy writ.  Immorality led to idolatry, and the whole camp was compromised.  Modern journalists call it "the honeytrap" when predators seek to bring down businessmen and politicians.  This was used freely in the 1st century A.D. and is referred to in Revelation 2v14/15, "Thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication".  Centuries after this disastrous episode in Israel, the same tactics are being used, female prostitution to attract to false gods.

The sin of Israel was not just fornication; the intent of it, and the outcome of it was to seduce them away from the true God to worship idols.  

"Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor"  25v3a  

They had turned from God to idols, and idols of the worst kind, the god worshipped by the Canaanites practising the worst kind of spiritual evil.  

"The Lord's anger was kindled against Israel"  25v3b 

There follows now a Divine action unparalleled in His judgments on Israel.  All the heads (rulers) of the people were publicly executed in broad daylight.  When God's people stray the responsibility will fall on the rulers.  Then the command was given to the judges to slay every one that was joined to Baal-peor.  

"Those that died in the plague was 24,000"  25v9

In the midst of all this, in the face of Divine anger, one of the higher ranking Israelites (Zimri, the son of a prince of the chief house among the Simeonites) brazenly entered the camp with a Midianite princess.  Moses, Aaron, and all the judges with the whole camp were aware of it, but they were dealing with the plague sent among them.  These elite individuals had no regard for God or the people of God.  Taken aback by the sheer brass neck of this, the leaders appeared paralyzed.  Sensing the gravity of the situation, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, took prompt and decisive action, by entering the sullied tent and killing the perpetrators in the very act.  Scripture records the following: 

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy"  25v10-11

This very public sin of Israel was brought to an end in a very public way by one man who would not remain silent when the Lord's honour was being trashed.  Only eternity will reveal, in the course of time, the number of people with similar zeal, and with God's glory at heart. who have saved God's people from more sorrow.

This brings us to the major theme of this chapter.  In these studies we are considering the scriptures as they reveal Christ.  What is revealed here is that God loves His people, and will not forsake them, but He hates their sin and He must act against it.  He will not tolerate rank immorality or idolatry amongst us.  Of Christ it is written, "Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity"-Hebrews 1v9.  God's redeemed people must not practise what God hates.  "Judgment must begin at the House of God", writes Peter (1st Peter 4v17).  Paul wrote, "When we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world"-1st Cor. 11v32.  The writer to Hebrews says, "My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.  For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth"-Hebrews 12v5-6. Sometimes that chastening can be very severe, as the word scourgeth would infer.  Sometimes it will involve removal from earth as in 1st Corinthians 11v30.  This was the case with Israel, and it is still in force today.  God cannot allow His people to dishonour His name.  Like Phinehas, we need people like him who will act, instead of remaining silent as many do today.  The name of the Lord is everything in this world, and His people need to display that.  Will the Lord say of us, "he/she was zealous for my sake among them"?

Christ in all the scriptures The Sceptre of righteousness

 Christ in all the scriptures

Christ the Sceptre of Divine righteousness   Numbers 24v17-25

Everyone talks of the "second coming", some in jest, others in due reverence; but few are willing to talk about what it means.  Revelation 19v11 says that when heaven opens, Christ is coming to make war, He is coming to dismantle the godless world system, and rule in righteousness before the great eternal dawn.  Balaam prophesied something of this and uttered the only logical words, "Alas who shall live when God doeth this?"-24v23.  

These last three parables paint a picture of retribution on all those who defy God, beginning at the near future from Balaam, and stretching right into the present age.  Moab, Edom, Amalek, Kenites, Asshur, and Chittim are all named in the context of judgment.  All these are identifiable nations or groups, and the Divine sceptre is against them.

The Sceptre shall "smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth"-v17; Edom shall be a possession, Seir (Edom's mountain range) also shall be a possession for his enemies"-v18; "Amalek was the first of nations (probably alluding to its primacy in opposition to Israel) but his last end shall be that he perish for ever"-v20; The proud self sufficient Kenites, "Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.  Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive"-v21/22 "Ships from Chittim (some say Cyprus, others Greece, even Rome-whatever, the great marauding maritime forces who will afflict Asshur-Assyrians, and Eber-Hebrews) shall also perish forever"-v24. 

Different people, with different attitude to God's people.  The judgment will be righteous, some will suffer temporarily, others eternally.  The Judge of all the earth will do right, but no one will escape His wrath.  Through Balaam God identifies the nations concerned, their opposition to His will, and their final judgment.  All who opposed Israel in any way, and therefore Israel's Messiah, will suffer at the hands of Almighty God.  A reading of Old Testament narrative reveals that God controls the fate of nations and He rewards the good and punishes the evil.  The outburst of Balaam in v23 is akin to the cry in Revelation 6v17, "The great day of His wrath has come and who shall be able to stand?"

The Sovereign God knows us all individually, and He knows the trend of nations, if you like national characteristics and attitudes.  This prophecy of future judgment will affect every nation on earth.  When Christ returns He will call the living nations before Him (Matthew 25v31-46).  Scholars tell us that there are approx. 2500 bible prophecies in all of scripture, and that nigh on 2000 have already been fulfilled.  The remaining 500 or so will also be fulfilled.  This is the certain hope of all believers, none of which will be frustrated.  Proud men will be abased and the humble will be exalted.  Regardless of the wealth and power of some, they will all be brought down before the throne of the Majesty of heaven.  Isaiah the prophet wrote (42v13-14): 

"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar, He shall prevail against His enemies.  I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself; now I will cry like a travailing woman, I will devour and destroy at once".

 The devastation of Moab is detailed in Isaiah 15-16.  Edom will be subservient until their final end, as stated in the prophecy of Obadiah.  In Exodus 17 the Lord swore to have war with Amalek from generation to generation.  They were destroyed according to 1st Chronicles 4v42-43.  All future enemies of God will likewise be destroyed in God's own time, including the present day and beyond.  The Sceptre of His throne is a right sceptre and the day of righteousness will be ushered in.

Balaam departed, but not before he had given secret counsel to Balak of how to bring Israel down.  This will be the subject of chapter 25.  The words of Paul in Acts 17v30-31 are pressing now and in all future generations, "God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead".

God spoke through Balaam in no uncertain terms.  In the seven parables we learn:

1)  God has blessed one nation Israel and they will flourish as the dust of the earth 23v7-10

2)  God's covenants are irrevocable, and He is with His redeemed people-23v18-22

3)  Israel will inherit the land and overcome all enemies  24v3-9

4)  Out of Israel will come Christ the Messiah.  They will subdue Moab and Edom  24v15-19

5)  The foremost and most formidable enemy, Amalek, will be destroyed  24v20

6)  The Kenites, symbolic of the pride of man, will be abased  24v21-22

7)  The maritime powers of the earth, who oppress the world will be broken 24v23-24.

All of these prophesies are expanded in later scriptures, some of them yet to be fulfilled.

Christ in all the scriptures The Star and the Sceptre

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Star and the Sceptre   Numbers 24v15-25

This fourth parable of Balaam, central to all seven parables, and basis for the final three, focuses upon an individual rather than the nation Israel.

"Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city"-24v19.    

They, referring to Israel, becomes He referring to Messiah, the One in whom all the purposes of God will be fulfilled.  This Messianic prophecy was couched in the context of Balak's seething anger, and Balaam's declaration that all the money and power of Moab could not persuade him to curse what God has blessed-24v13.

"And now behold I go unto my people: come therefore and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days"-24v14.

The king of Moab wanted Israel to be cursed for the immediate problem of Israel trespassing on their land.  Balaam's answer was that their subjugation to Israel would go on way into the distant future.  There was to be no resolution for Moab in the present, nor in the future.

"And he took up this parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said.  He hath said which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Almighty, falling into a trance but having his eyes open: 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"-24v15-17.

These are the words of God, they are not my words and they cannot be altered.  This proclaims the overriding message of Numbers 24, namely, the undeniable and unalterable will of God.  No word of puny man, no matter how exalted they think themselves to be, will frustrate the purposes of God.  

"There shall come out of Jacob....and out of Israel...A STAR and A SCEPTRE"!  This twin title, prophesying the coming of Christ, captures the predominant subject of this important section (chapters 22-24 of Numbers)-namely blessing or cursing from God. It began with the king of Moab expressing the outstanding ability of Balaam to bless or curse whom he will (22v6) and ends with the threefold blessing of God upon Israel and the curse on all who oppose them.

The Star represents God's blessing in the incarnation of Christ.  The Sceptre represents     God's curse, His judgment on all opposition to His will.  Consider the following scriptures:

Matthew 2v1-10  "We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him....when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy".  Luke 1v78  "...the dayspring from on high hath visited us".  2nd Peter 1v19 "...take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts".  Revelation 22v16 "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star".

As the Star, Christ is the light of the world in darkness to the things of God, and He alone dispenses the blessing of God upon those who receive His light.  As the Sceptre He opposes and judges all who refuse Him.  In Him all are blessed, against Him all are judged.  This judgment is severe as the following scriptures reveal.

Genesis 49v10 "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh (Jesus the Messiah) come and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be".  Psalm 45v6 (applied to Jesus in Hebrews 1v8) "Thy throne O God is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre".  Revelation 12v5 "And she brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and the child was caught up to God , and to His throne".  Revelation 19v11 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and behold He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war".  Revelation 19v15 "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God".

He came the first time as the Star, the light of God midst the darkness of earth.  He is coming the second time to make war on a world which has rejected God.  The One who came to be your Saviour will instead be your judge.  The issues are serious, at stake is eternal blessing or eternal loss.  In Christ, who came through Israel, all nations of earth are blessed.  There is no middle ground, we are either for Him or against Him.  Balak and the princes of Moab were against Him, where are we?

We conclude this blog by referring to the enigma of Balaam.  This is a man who knew the truth, who proclaimed the truth of God, who refused a fortune in money because he would not compromise God's word.  Yet the New Testament account is that Balaam remained in heart against the will of God.  The man who proclaimed the good news of God as well as any has perished.  Indeed he says as much himself, "I shall see Him, but not now...".  Balaam was aware that one day in the distant future he would come face to face with Almighty God; are we aware of that?  We shall all stand before the judgment seat to give account (Romans 14v11-12).  Sadly so many have forgotten that, or they have never known it.  He goes on "I shall see Him but not nigh".  In his heart of hearts he knew he would remain at a distance from God; he preached Him, he suffered loss because of Him, yet he would not humble himself in contrition before the God of reconciliation.  He is apart from God now and will be forever.  Balaam's death is recorded in Numbers 31v8, where he was killed in a divinely inspired military conflict between Israel and Midian.  It seems Balaam was on the side of Midian, the enemies of Israel and therefore of God, and he died fighting against the God whom he knew better than most.  What a salutary lesson is this!  It is not what we say but what we believe in our heart that saves us.  We can know the truth intellectually, but unless we receive the "love of the truth" it is worthless.  Judas Iscariot spent three plus years in the company of Christ, performed miracles in His name, yet he perished.  Only heart belief in Christ is real.  The Bible message is clear:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved!"-Romans 10v9.