Chapter 24

“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)

This passage is a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah. Balaam could see Him, but not now. Lord Jesus is here prophetically called a Star and a Scepter; He is glorious like a star, and has all authority to rule, as pictured by a scepter.

Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way. (Numbers 24:25 NLT)

Then Balaam left and returned home

This should not be interpreted to mean that he returned immediately to Pethor (his home town), because Balaam was among those killed when Israel slaughtered the Midianites (Numbers 31:8).

“Home” probably means the place where Balaam was staying while visiting Balak.

Balak also went on his way

We must credit Balak for one thing; he did not seek to defeat Israel through military strategy or new weapons. He knew that it was a spiritual battle and who wins this battle wins the physical battle as well.

Apostle Paul was aware of this truth and wrote:

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. (Ephesians 6:12 Amplified)