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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,
And batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of tumult. (Numbers 24:17)

Balaam was a strange and unlikely prophet of the living God, and his words recorded in Numbers 23 and 24 were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Speaking forth God’s word, Balaam said a Star shall come out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. With these words through Balaam, God described someone glorious (like a Star) who would also have authority to rule (pictured by a Scepter).

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.

Both ancient Jewish writers and early Christians understood this as a reference to the Messiah. It’s entirely possible that the wise men who were drawn to Bethlehem, perhaps a year or more after the birth of Jesus, were drawn by a star. Balaam’s announcement of a coming Star and Scepter gave them a Scriptural reason to follow the unusual star in the sky.

Perhaps when the magi sighted the star, they looked up the prophecy of Balaam. They could have connected the Star with the Scepter – they followed the star in the sky and looked for the One born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). The star of Bethlehem gets a lot of attention at Christmas time, and rightfully so. Yet that star not only pointed to Jesus Christ, but it also spoke of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament puts its stamp of approval on Balaam’s prophecy. It at least two ways, First, by the prominence of the star in the story of Jesus’ birth and babyhood (Matthew 2:1-10). Second, the reference Jesus as the Bright and Morning Star likely has Balaam’s prophecy in mind (Revelation 2:26-28, 22:16).

It’s wonderful that Jesus is represented by a Star. Stars are in the heavens; so is Jesus. Stars bring light, so does Jesus. Stars gives us a sense of awe, and so does Jesus. Stars give guidance, and so does Jesus. Do you see Jesus as a star? Is He your star?

It’s wonderful that Jesus is also represented by a scepter. Kings hold scepters, and those scepters communicate the king’s authority, His right to reign and rule. As the king of kings, Jesus has the right to hold any and all scepters.

Jesus holds the right to this scepter in at least two ways. First, most monarchs become kings by birth; and Jesus was born a king. Second, the scepter of kingly authority belongs to Jesus as He earned it by a sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

Do you recognize the kingly scepter Jesus holds over your life?

This Christmas, think of Jesus: Star and Scepter.

Click here for David’s commentary on Numbers 24