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.