PROLOGUE — A Third Attempt, and Abandoning Any Further Try
Numbers 24 contains Balaam’s third and final oracle, along with additional prophecies given afterward. In this chapter, Balaam’s prophecy extends beyond Israel’s present into the distant future — ultimately, the Messiah.
ACT ONE — The Third Attempt, Abandoning Divination (verses 1–9)
“And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.”
He went not… to seek for enchantments. In the previous two attempts, Balaam had used traditional divination procedures — altars, sacrifices. But now he realized such rituals could never change the outcome. He simply looked out over the wilderness, and the Spirit of God came upon him.
“And the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said… How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side.”
This poetic praise of Israel’s beauty and prosperity shows that Balaam was now entirely under God’s control.
ACT TWO — Balak’s Fury, and Balaam’s Final Response (verses 10–14)
“And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.”
Balaam’s answer reaffirmed once more that his prophecy belonged entirely to God.
“Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?”
ACT THREE — A Star Shall Come Out of Jacob (verses 15–19)
Balaam voluntarily added one final prophecy, and this becomes the most theologically significant portion of this chapter.
“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.”
There shall come a Star out of Jacob. This prophecy extends beyond any immediately fulfilled event — “not now… not nigh.” It pointed toward the distant future, an ultimate ruler. Both Jewish and Christian tradition have long interpreted this verse as messianic — the Magi in Matthew’s gospel following a “star” to find Christ is widely considered an echo of this very prophecy. So deeply did this prophecy shape Jewish history that a later rebel leader took the name Bar Kokhba (“son of the star”), attempting to apply this verse to himself.
REFLECTION — A Plan Fulfilled Even Through One Who Came to Curse
The most astonishing fact Numbers 24 shows us is that God proclaimed His ultimate plan — the coming of the Messiah — through the very mouth of the foreign prophet who had come to curse Israel. Balaam’s intentions were, from beginning to end, against Israel, yet his lips could speak nothing but God’s will.
Can you trust that, even in circumstances where someone opposes or seeks to harm you, God is still accomplishing His own plan?
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
Numbers Chapter 25 — the incident of Baal worship and immorality at Peor, and the dramatic moment when Phinehas’s zeal saves Israel from disaster, follows.
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