What is the significance of the star in Balaam’s prophecy?

After three oracles, in Balaam’s fourth oracle, he announced that a star would come out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel, a great king who would definitively crush all of her enemies (Numbers 24:17–19). In Numbers 24:17, we read, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth.”

Balaam lived 1,400 before the birth of Christ. As Yahweh opened his eyes (v. 15) and ears (v. 16) to see what lay ahead, he made it clear that this prophecy had a distant fulfilment. Previously, Balaam prophesied of the beauty, strength, and blessedness of Israel; now, God used him to speak of the culmination of all Israel’s beauty, strength, and blessedness – the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Israel's ultimate blessedness comes from Jesus, their Messiah.

The language here unmistakably points to the promised deliverer's divine nature. He would come as a star and a scepter, one with divine authority. He would specifically be a descendant of Jacob, a divine Israelite.

Early Jewish writers understood this as a reference to the Messiah. Early Christian writers also understood this as a reference to the Messiah. Justin Martyr and Athanasius the Great both saw this Star as a reference to Jesus Christ.

Numbers 24:17 combines a number of images that are and will become important in the symbolic grammar of scripture.

First, the star and scepter are images of kingship—which is significant because Israel (Jacob) had no king at this point in their history.

Secondly, the language of Moab (which represents the enemies of YHWH and His people) having its forehead crushed takes us back to Genesis 3:15, where God tells the serpent (Satan) that a chosen descendent of Eve would one day bruise / crush his head, even as the serpent will bruise/crush the descendant’s heel.

So, Numbers 24:17 takes the imagery of kingship and the imagery of the promised serpent-trampling Savior and unites them. The Savior who will crush Satan’s head even as His own heel is crushed will be the King of Israel.

Jesus is indeed the Star of Jacob and the Scepter of Israel, sent by God to deliver his people from sin and to exercise dominion in the world.

When the Morning Star appears on the horizon, night’s death is sealed. The Day is coming. And, in that sense, the crucified, risen, and now-reigning Jesus is the Morning Star of history. But He is, of course, also the Son who has risen and will soon rise, filling the earth with the radiance of the glory of God the Father…. a radiance in which those who oppose Him will be burned to ash and those who fear him will be healed of all hurts (Malachi 4:1-2).

The wise men saw the star and understood, and it is imperative that we be like them, ready for the journey, prepared for the sign, eagerly awaiting the time that is to come, rather than Herod, mass-murderer of children, ignorant of his Savior’s birth and hating His very existence. Be prepared!

May we all together with all the Church, say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:17).

Application Questions:

1. In what ways do we, like Balak, try to control or manipulate outcomes instead of submitting to God's will?

2. How would you handle a situation where you are pressured into going against God's will, as Balaam was by Balak?

Quote:

The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations and the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ. - D. James Kennedy

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be like the wise men who saw the star and understood. Help me to see the signs of Your coming and prepare my life for it. Amen.