Chapter 7: The Final Three Oracles of Balaam
Numbers 24:20–25
Q1 - Centuries later, God revealed the future kingdoms of the world to another pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, who carried the Israelites off into Babylonian captivity. In his dream, how was the coming of Christ described? Read the account of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2. This article discusses the dream: “What is the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2?” (tinyurl.com/yjmyzfsc).
A1 - Sometime after Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried the Israelites off into Babylonian captivity, he had a dream that disturbed him greatly. Rather than telling his dream to the magicians, astrologers, and other wise men, he demanded that they first tell him the contents of his dream. That way, he would know that whoever interpreted his dream truly had spiritual insight. When no one could tell him his dream, he called for the death of all the wise men in the country.
When the king’s men came to execute Daniel and his friends, who were known as being wise men, Daniel asked for some time to interpret the king’s dream. Then he and his friends prayed to God, and the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was revealed to him. Daniel went to the king and explained his dream. He told him that God had shown King Nebuchadnezzar what would happen in the days to come (Daniel 2:27–28).
Daniel described a magnificent statue that Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his dream. There were four parts to the statue—the head, the chest and arms, the belly and thighs, and the legs and feet. Daniel explained that each part represented a major kingdom which would rule the known world, with Nebuchadnezzar’s being first. His kingdom was the head of the statue. After him would come three other kingdoms. Then in Daniel 2:34–35 (NIV), Daniel told the king, “‘While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.’” He explained that, because of the rock, the statue was broken to bits, and the wind blew the pieces away without a trace. “‘But,’ Daniel continued, ‘the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.’”
As Daniel explained the interpretation of the king’s dream, he told him what would happen after the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2:44–45 (NIV).
“‘In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.’”
So, we see in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, God again revealed the coming of Christ to a pagan king. In his dream, Christ was described as the rock which smashed the other kingdoms to bits and became a huge mountain which filled the whole earth. His kingdom would be one that endured forever.
Q2 - God can work through anyone He choses. That does not mean, however, that God endorses or approves of that person. How did God work through Pharaoh when delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery? (See Exodus 9:16 and Romans 9:17.)
A2 - God explained in Exodus 9:13–19 that He could have stretched out His hand and struck Pharaoh and his people with a plague that would have wiped them off the earth. Instead, God allowed Pharaoh to continue to resist Him in order that His mighty power could be displayed and His name proclaimed in all the earth. God had raised Pharaoh up for this very purpose.
Pharaoh did indeed resist God, and through Moses and Aaron, God worked a series of ten spectacular miracles in the form of plagues. This display of God’s might sent a powerful message to the pagan world. The Egyptians worshipped a multitude of false gods, none of whom could perform such miracles. God, with His great might, proved all their gods to be imposters. God’s miracles were also for the benefit of the Israelites. He wanted them to know that He was the true God who was acting on their behalf to deliver them from Egyptian slavery.
Q3 - A little later in the history of the Israelites, Ruth from the land of Moab would come with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to live in Israel. What part would she play in the coming of Christ? What does her life say about the inclination of a person’s heart versus his or her heritage? (See the book of Ruth for her story. Ruth 4:13–22 gives the lineage which came from her.)
A3 - During the study of Balaam, we have seen how God became displeased with the Moabites. Their king, Balak, sent for Balaam to curse the Israelites. Then, because of Balaam’s counsel, the Moabite women later enticed the Israelite men to engage in immoral behavior and also to worship Baal.
In Deuteronomy 23:3–6 (NIV), God declared:
“No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.”
The story of Ruth happens a little later in the history of the Israelites. Naomi, along with her husband and two sons, had gone to the land of Moab to live because of a famine in Judah. While there, her husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but then both her sons died some time later.
When Ruth heard that the famine in her country had finally ended, she decided to return home. She told her two daughters-in-law to go back to their families so they could find other husbands. Orpah did return, but Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi. Ruth accompanied Naomi to Judah where she found favor with Boaz, who took her for his wife. Ruth became the mother of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David. David was the father of King Solomon, and on through their lineage came the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Ruth, although she was a Moabitess, because of her love and devotion to her mother-in-law, became an integral part of the lineage of Christ. God did not hold her heritage against her, but rather placed her in a position of great honor. Ruth had a kind and loving heart, and God, who knows the hearts of people, rewarded her greatly.