“A Star Shall Come,
A Scepter Shall Rise”
Numbers 24:15-17

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Third Sunday in Advent—December 11, 2022

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

We continue our Advent Sermon Series “The Prophets Have Foretold It,” looking at amazing Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s birth, including the mysterious prophecy in today’s Old Testament Reading, given 1,500 years before his birth:

            “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

                        the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,

            the oracle of one who hears the words of God,

                        who has knowledge from the Most High,

            who sees a vision from the Almighty,

                        who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

            I see Him, but not now;

                        I behold Him, but not near.

            A Star shall come out of Jacob,

                        a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

You may remember the strange circumstances surrounding this prophecy, recounted in today’s Old Testament Reading.  The Israelites have finished their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  Now they are encamped in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan River, preparing finally to cross over into the Promised Land.

The king of Moab is frightened by this enormous tribe of nomads living in his territory.  Since the Israelites, aided by the Lord’s power, have already conquered several large military forces, the king of Moab cannot hope to succeed against them militarily.  So, he tries to fight against them spiritually.  He brings in a famous sorcerer named Balaam, a spiritual “hired gun,” to pronounce a curse upon the Israelites.

By the way, 75 years ago there was an astounding archaeological discovery confirming the Bible, a lengthy inscription about this very same Balaam from 3,500 years ago, unearthed in the excavations of an ancient pagan temple in the same region where these events took place.

This Balaam is not a true prophet, but what the Bible calls a “soothsayer.”  He’s a professional wizard, selling his Satanic, occultic powers to the highest bidder.  His motto might be, “Have spells, will travel.”

But, this time, the Lord hijacks Balaam for his own purposes.  The true Spirit of the Lord speaks through Balaam.  The king of Moab is exasperated as four times in a row Balaam pronounces upon the Israelites not a curse but a blessing.

And, by the Spirit of the Lord, Balaam even proclaims a marvelous prophecy of the coming Messiah: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near.  A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”  Martin Luther says: “Is it not wonderful how God turns Balaam’s cursed malediction into a blessed benediction? . . .  Though Balaam was a villain . . . he was inspired . . . to utter the noblest prophecies . . . with the greatest eloquence . . . and . . . he delivered a most beautiful sermon about Christ.”

“Star” and “Scepter” in this prophecy are both symbolic of a great king.  Balaam doesn’t have the details, but by the Spirit of the Lord he foresees that sometime in the future THE great King of Kings will arise out of this chosen people Israel, and specifically the Hebrew tribe of Jacob.  Like a Star, radiant and beautiful, he is visible from afar, even 1,500 years in the future. Like a Scepter, majestic and powerful, he will come into our world to defeat forever the great enemies of all humanity, sin, death, and the devil.  “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near.  A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

Balaam didn’t have the details of when and how this great King would come, but YOU do.  For, this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus says in Revelation, “I am . . . the bright Morning Star.”  The angel said to Mary, “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  The Wise Men asked, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” 

“What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?  This, this, is Christ, the King . . .  The King of Kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.” 

His is not an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom, as Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is within you.”  The great King of Kings is staking a claim to your heart and your life, as his own territory.  Enthrone the King of Kings in your heart and life, by loving him, trusting him, serving him.  Make him the “Star” of YOUR life!

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near.  A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”