BALAK’S anger was kindled against Balaam because instead of cursing the people he had blessed them three times. Clapping his hands together he said, “now flee to thy place.” And Balaam was soon to return home, but before he darts Balak is given to hear the most wonderful prophecy of all. Far from his overcoming Israel Balaam tells Balak “what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.”
This last prophecy is of Christ as God’s King when He reigns in power in Zion, and also tells of the judgment of the nations in the last days.
“There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Heth.”
Christ is that Star and Scepter and He that shall have dominion. “Israel shall do valiantly” but it will be by His power.
We notice that here the judgment begins with those nations that were related to Israel by common descent. He “shall smite the corners of Moab"; “and Edom shall be a possession.” Next comes Amalek. “Amalek was the first of the nations"; he was the grandson of Esau and the first enemy to fight against God’s redeemed people after they had passed through the Red Sea. “His latter end shall be that he shall perish forever.”
The Kenites, a branch of the Midianites, and descendants of Abram, boasted of their security among the rocks, but they would be wasted “until Asshur [or Ayria] shall carry thee away captive. The sin of the Kenites was self-confidence. How different the hope of him who trusts in the Lord!
What solemn judgments are in store for the nations that know not God! As Balaam sees this “vision of the Almighty” and pursues his parable he says with a cry of pain, “Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!”
Those nations whom God used to punish others will themselves come under His judgment. Asshur might carry the Kenite away captive but “ships shall come from the coasts of Chittim” — some Western power — “shall afflict Asshur and Eber.” But this great leader’s turn comes next — “he also shall perish forever.”
What a wonderful sketch of the history of God’s earthly people we have in these prophecies, beginning with the time of their slavery in Egypt and looking on to their exaltation in the last days. Who would have thought that those poor slaves, groaning under the lash of the Egyptian taskmaster’s whip would one day become the head of all nations; and that peoples from every land would come and do them homage! But such through sovereign grace is their destiny.
We rejoice in thinking of the blessings God has in store for Israel, while at the same time we know ours is a more blessed portion still. Those “goodly tents” of Jacob, how fair they appeared under His eye! But He has clothed us with the best robe of heaven, — Christ Himself — and we are the guests of honor now at His table. Christ has already won the victory for us on the cross and we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. He has prepared a place for us in the Father’s house of many mansions where He shall share His glory with us, and we shall sing His and the Father’s praise forever.
ML-06/02/1974