It is good to be back! I was on vacation for a little while, that's why I had no comments posted. Hopefully you all kept up with your Bible reading, though! Such interesting things we see in Numbers and in Acts! And most importantly, we see Christ proclaimed. Christ is preached boldly by the disciples at the very beginning of the New Testament church. But Christ is also boldly proclaimed in the book of Numbers. We see a clear, deep, and profound proclamation in our numbers reading today. That is where I focus my comments. So, on with the reading...
Read Acts 14
Read Numbers 24
In our reading today, we see the account of Balak and Balaam continue. Basically, Balak the King of Moab hires Balaam to curse Israel. You see, the people have become afraid of Israel. They weren't the biggest nation around, but God was leading Israel so that nothing could stop them. Moab heard of how the Amorites were destroyed by Israel, and they became afraid.
But when Balaam is hired to curse Israel, he opens his mouth, and what comes out is a blessing. It is almost humorous how he is unable to speak a word against God's chosen people. Balak becomes more and more agitated, then more and more furious. And today we read the final blessing, and it is one that strongly points forward to Christ.
Balaam even indicates that he is prophesying a future triumph. He tells Balak that he will speak of things that will happen in the "latter days." Balaam sees someone who is "not now" and "not near," but someone who would definitely come to be a king. "A scepter shall rise out of Israel, and it shall crush the forehead of Moab" and so on. And Balaam calls this king a "star...out of Jacob."
Indeed, when Christ was born, a star announced his birth and led the magi (who maybe knew this prophecy) to the manger of the King of Kings. Yes he, a humble baby, held all the power of the world. And he came to defeat the wicked and crush the enemy, as Balaam prophesied.
And this King would himself be a star, a shining light. He proclaims, "I AM the light of the world!" He is a light no darkness has overcome. And all the forces of evil and darkness would be crushed under his feet.
Yes, this King would win victory - but in a most astonishing way! Jesus allowed himself to be crucified so that dying, he would defeat death. And taking on our sin, he broke sin's power. And allowing himself to suffer hell, he stormed its gates and overcame.
This is Good News for you and I. It would be bad news if we opposed Christ, but because we are his precious people (by grace through faith), we are assured that we have rescue from the power of darkness. We have rescue now, and final salvation at the end.
A Star has risen out of Jacob, and he is Christ the Lord! Thanks be to God.
Pray:
"Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness fulfilled in Christ. Rule us by Your beloved Word. Amen." (TLSB p. 257).
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Of course you'd comment on the OT! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an astonishing section of Acts here as well. Paul and Barnabas remind the people of Lystra of the Greek myth of Baucis and Philemon. They don't want to make that same mistake again. More importantly, we have someone outside of the church recognizing that God was present in these men. Astonishing that still today people doubt Paul's message.
In fact, people today hate Paul as much as the men who then stoned him. Yet he comes right back into the city and continues preaching. Immediately after being stoned! His faith and courage are truly remarkable.