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NUMBERS
CHAPTER 24

1 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. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

Balaam FINALLY understood that God was going to BLESS Israel. So this time
he just sat still and waited for God to speak to him. And God did.
God's word to us is not always what we expect. But God's word is always RIGHT!
The question is not "will God speak," but the question is "will I listen?"

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

The first word God gave Balaam is that Israel is already a wonder and a
miracle of God. To the world at that time, Israel appeared HUGE - or as a large
nation. The people lived together, and the appearance of their strength
was tremendous.
Friends, if Christians band together the world will consider us a
formidable force!
Also, this word says that the nation of Israel had a special
aroma. Balaam likens this aroma to many aloe trees planted in a row.
If Christians will band together we will present a very PLEASANT odor to
the world. It'll be an odor that will cause folk to want what we have - CHRIST!

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

The second word from God to Balaam is about the POWER of Israel in the world.
Agag was perhaps a name like "Pharoah," and referred to whichever king held that
position at the time.
There is a word of prophecy in verse 7. Agag was a king killed by Samuel some
300 years LATER! (1Samuel 15:32-33)
Israel, Balaam reiterated, would be like a lion that no one dared to arouse
because of his viciousness.
Balaam closes his "parable" with the words God gave to Abraham centuries before:
"Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee."
God is FAITHFUL in all His promises. He has promised that Israel IS blessed,
and will be the center of history. It has been so for over 3,000 years; and it
will continue to be so.

10 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. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 13 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? 14 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.

Most of us are like Balak. When we want something we want God to rationalize
with us and say it's OK. Balak wanted power and control over Israel. But God
said, "NO!" Now God has refused Balak four times, and the king becomes angry and
threatens God's prophet.
The wicked want to do "their own things," but God reproves them through His people.
And that's why the "righteous" are persecuted.
Now Balaam tells another prophetic parable.

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 17 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. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. 21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! 24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

Now, if you read that closely, your mouth oughta be wide open and your jaw down to
your knees about now! This is an AMAZING prophecy!
Balaam says his eyes are opened. God has given him true vision into the
future. He has seen what happens; but doesn't know how to explain it. He
can only state it.
1. Balaam shall behold the King of Kings, but it is not "nigh" or soon (verse 17A).
2. Verse 17b is basically a restatement of Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49:10 which
was given some 600 years before. This statement may have been the reason the
"wise men" were looking for a special "star" in 4BC when Jesus was born.
LISTEN: God is NOT in a hurry! The accomplishment of God's goals do not depend
upon our lifetime. The victory over Moab ("children of Sheth") is predicted here.
But most importantly, that victory symbolizes the victory of Christ over SIN!
(See 2Samuel 8:2) where David conquers the Moabites and makes them servants.
3. Verse 18 tells us that the Edomites (family of Essau) are a proud and boastful
people. But they will become servants to Israel. This happened in 2Samuel 8:13-14.
(One might also see Obadiah 1:3)
4. It is Jesus (verse 19) Who has total dominion and is able to destroy.
5. The Amalekites would be totally anihilated (verse 20). Moses also prophesied
of this in Exodus 17:14.
6. The Kenites (verses 21-22) were somewhat linked with the Midianites. Their
end would be capture by "Asshur" - or the Assyrians.
7. In verses 23-24, Balaam prophesies that Greece (Chittim) will conquer the
Assyrians, and will even afflict Israel. But their end will be destruction for ever.
Greece, in Daniel 2:33, is described as the "feet part of iron and part of clay."
These feet were destroyed in Daniel 2:34 and scattered by the great "stone." And
the "stone" was Rome, which replaced the broken Grecian empire.
All the governments of the world will be submitted to Jesus who is the "stone which
the builders rejected.." (Matthew 21:42)

When Balaam finished his prophetic utterance, he went home and Balak went on his
way. Balaam should have stayed at home, but we'll find that this great
prophet was still too turned by money!

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