The Star that points to the King
| "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel." (Numbers24:17) |
Balaam was a pagan soothsayer who had been hired by the Moabite king, Balak, to curse Moses and the Israelites as they travelled through Moab. His mission was redefined by the angel of the Lord and a talking donkey and so Balaam blessed Israel and spoke of a star and a scepter: a vision of a distant and glorious King who would rise from Jacob.
This was no ordinary king. The star that Balaam saw was a glimmer of hope in the darkness, signpost to the One who would bring salvation. The scepter, a sign of rule and authority, would rest firmly in the hands of Jesus Christ, the true King of kings.
In the "fullness of time," the star appears again, this time in the night sky over Bethlehem, guiding wise men to bow before the child who would fulfill every promise. Jesus, born in humility, came not with earthly power but with heavenly purpose: to seek and to save, to rule and to restore.
This Christmas, as we celebrate His birth, may we see more than a baby in a manger. May we see the King who reigns, the Light who shines in the darkness, and the Star that leads us to eternal hope. He is near. He has come. And He will come again.
