Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil

Although it may not be the usual Christmas fare, the book of Revelation paints an amazing picture of how the Messiah will conquer evil. (Rev 12, 19:15-21, 20:7-10)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil The situation in Numbers 24 is somewhat similar to Numbers 14. Again the people are close to the promised land, this time to the east of it, across the Jordan river. The only thing separating them and the river, and over that the promised land, is the kingdom of Moab.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil Balak, the king of Moab, sends for Balaam, a renowned diviner (or sorcerer), that he might curse Israel.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil Balak, the king of Moab, sends for Balaam, a renowned diviner (or sorcerer), that he might curse Israel. Three times Balaam utters an oracle from God after offering sacrifices. And three times, instead of a curse on Israel, he utters a blessing!

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil Balak, the king of Moab, sends for Balaam, a renowned diviner (or sorcerer), that he might curse Israel. Three times Balaam utters an oracle from God after offering sacrifices. And three times, instead of a curse on Israel, he utters a blessing! This final major oracle is about what this people will do to your people in the latter days. (v14)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil These prophecies were partially fulfilled in the Old Testament, largely by King David, but they are fulfilled completely in the New Testament by the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror The image of a star was often used symbolically of royalty or divinity (Isa 14:12)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror The image of a star was often used symbolically of royalty or divinity (Isa 14:12) God blessed David and exalted him and glorified him in the sight of his people and in the sight of the nations.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror The image of a star was often used symbolically of royalty or divinity (Isa 14:12) God blessed David and exalted him and glorified him in the sight of his people and in the sight of the nations. You set a crown of fine gold upon his head…his glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. (Psalm 21:3,5)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matt 2:2) The star is a symbol of the royal glory of the Messiah and so it is fitting that they follow that star in order to worship him.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matt 2:2) The star is a symbol of the royal glory of the Messiah and so it is fitting that they follow that star in order to worship him. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The second image in Balaam’s prophecy is that of a ruler’s scepter or rod, which is a symbol of might and authority. He says a scepter shall rise out of Israel.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror From verses 17 to 19 we see four pairs of national names, each pair a parallel, with the conquered nations (Moab and Edom) in the middle.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror How did Edom and Moab become enemies of Israel?

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror How did Edom and Moab become enemies of Israel? Israel was not to fight against Edom, partly because of their shared heritage. The Edomites were descendants of Esau and the Lord had blessed Esau and given to him and his descendants Mt.Seir. (Deu 2:4-6)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror How did Edom and Moab become enemies of Israel? The Moabites too were a sister nation to the Israelites, although a little further back. They were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. And so when Israel came up to the plains of Moab they were not to wage war against Moab but to pass through peacefully in order to get to Canaan. (Deu 2:9)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror How did Edom and Moab become enemies of Israel? But both of these nations responded in hostility and became enemies of their own choice as they responded to God and his people.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror David: the kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord and his anointed and God has given to his anointed the power and might to have victory over these kings- you shall break them with a rod of iron. (Psalm 2)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror David: the history of David’s life and military campaigns gives evidence that he indeed won victories and subjugated many of the surrounding enemy nations, including Edom and Moab. (2 Sam 8)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The Lord God will not let nations and kings oppose him and his people forever. There will come a day when his patience will end and judgment will come through his Anointed King.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The original prophecy of a conqueror of evil (Gen 3:15) has parallels to our passage in Num 24: 1.Both speak of crushing the head- a fatal blow

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The original prophecy of a conqueror of evil (Gen 3:15) has parallels to our passage in Num 24: 1.Both speak of crushing the head- a fatal blow 2.Both enemies instigated the evil against God’s people

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The original prophecy of a conqueror of evil (Gen 3:15) has parallels to our passage in Num 24: 1.Both speak of crushing the head- a fatal blow 2.Both enemies instigated the evil against God’s people 3.Both time the prophecy is of a man from within that people

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror Jesus: his victory over Satan was assured at the cross (John 12:31, Col 2:15)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror Jesus: his victory over Satan was assured at the cross (John 12:31, Col 2:15) When we turn to the final victory of Jesus over Satan and his underlings in Revelation we find that evil people are also aligned with him.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror Jesus: Notice that it is not just the beast, nor even the kings of the earth who form the army that is against God’s people but all men, both free and slave, both small and great. (Rev 19:18)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror Jesus: Will you be with and for God’s people and God’s chosen King or will you be against them? Using imagery and story, Revelation makes clear what is not so clear as we walk through this world: there are only two groups of people.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The language of good/evil: Every human being will be judged in accordance with what they do. Sounds fair. If you do good you will receive glory and honour and peace, if you do evil there will be tribulation and distress. (Romans 2:6-11)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The language of good/evil: But here’s the catch: no one falls into the camp of the righteous. Romans 3:10–12 says “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The language of good/evil: We need Jesus’ righteousness which we can only receive by faith. (Romans 3:23-25)

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The language of good/evil: The holier you become the less holier-than-thou you should seem. The less wicked you become the more you should love and relate to the wicked. The more righteous you become the more obvious it should be that it is a foreign substance.

Num 24:15-19 Messiah: Conqueror of Evil 1.The Glory of the Conqueror 2.The Might of the Conqueror The Lord God will not let nations and kings oppose him and his people forever. There will come a day when his patience will end and judgment will come through his Anointed King.