THE STORY OF BALAAM THE PROPHET in the book of Numbers is a wonderfully odd story. Beginning in chapter 22, the Moabite king Balak asks Balaam to come and speak a malediction, a “bad word” on the people Israel. Balaam is a “prophet for hire,” meaning he will take any job for pay (see 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 11), but he is at least honest enough to say that he can only speak a prophetic word that comes from the Lord.
The story itself is full of twists and turns, complete with some fine wry humor and a talking donkey, but eventually Balak gets Balaam into position to speak his word—and Balaam, under God’s direction, speaks a word of blessing. Far from cursing his enemies, Balak has paid a lot of money to see his opponents blessed!
Today’s passage brings the story to an end, and Balaam is enabled by God to see the trajectory of this people before him: that from this people will come a star, a scepter, a king. God will bring forth one who will rule the nations, with power to overcome all enemies. Jesus is both the bright and Morning Star, whose word is the light upon our paths, and our king, and under his banner we go forth with the power of the Holy Spirit, that we might speak a benediction, a good word to all that we meet.