12 December 2022

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near—
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the borderlands of Moab,
and the territory of all the Shethites.

From Numbers 24:2-7,15-17, NRSV

In today’s reading we hear the prophecy of Balaam who was the least likely person to foretell that anything good would come from the line of Jacob and the people of Israel. Balaam was a non Israelite who was under the command of King Balak of Moab. King Balak was anxious that as the Israelites approached the Promised Land, they would invade his territories. At that time, the Israelites were camped very close to Moab so King Balak sent Balaam to curse them and set them astray. This was Balaam’s intention, but on his journey his eyes were opened to see what God saw in the people of Israel. Despite pressure from King Balak, Balaam was faithful to God and spoke words of blessing and promise rather than the curse he had been sent to deliver.

• • What made Balaam willing to disobey his king? 
  • Does it make a difference when we view others through God’s eyes and not just our own?

Pray today for those who risk punishment or derision for putting their faith in God before the authority of human rulers.