I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel (Num. 24:17).
These are the true words of a false prophet, false to himself and the principles of truth; but the Spirit of God came overwhelmingly upon him and he spoke the truth. He predicted that he would see the coming Redeemer, but he would not be near Him. He predicted the rise of the Star of Jacob, "the bright and morning star" (Rev. 22:16), even the Lord Jesus Christ. "A Sceptre shall rise out of Israel," he declared.
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, with a cross for a throne, came in fulfillment of divine prophecy; but in God's own time He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords, with a diadem of glory. How sad it is to have a part in the work and Word of God and then depart from it! We feel a little of it in the cry of Judas, "I have betrayed the innocent blood" (Matt. 27:4). We hear an echo of it in the words of Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen. 4:13). Money isn't everything; in fact, it's nothing compared with eternal riches. Anyone who sells the hope of eternal life for any price that earth can offer sells out too cheap, and the one who exchanges the greatest treasures of earth for the true riches makes the best of bargains. Poor Balaam! He was one of those who, having eyes, saw not (Jer. 5:21). In his case gold hid God.
A man once visited Robert Hall, the great preacher, to take exception to some statement he had made in a sermon. It was evident that the man was in bondage to the love of money. Hall opened his Bible and, pointing to the word "God," asked, "Can you see that?"
"Certainly," replied the man.
Then the preacher took a gold coin and placed it over the word. "Can you see it now?" he asked. The man understood and, by God's grace, his spiritual sight was restored.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Help us, O God of our salvation,...and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake" (Ps. 79:9).
These are the true words of a false prophet, false to himself and the principles of truth; but the Spirit of God came overwhelmingly upon him and he spoke the truth. He predicted that he would see the coming Redeemer, but he would not be near Him. He predicted the rise of the Star of Jacob, "the bright and morning star" (Rev. 22:16), even the Lord Jesus Christ. "A Sceptre shall rise out of Israel," he declared.
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, with a cross for a throne, came in fulfillment of divine prophecy; but in God's own time He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords, with a diadem of glory. How sad it is to have a part in the work and Word of God and then depart from it! We feel a little of it in the cry of Judas, "I have betrayed the innocent blood" (Matt. 27:4). We hear an echo of it in the words of Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen. 4:13). Money isn't everything; in fact, it's nothing compared with eternal riches. Anyone who sells the hope of eternal life for any price that earth can offer sells out too cheap, and the one who exchanges the greatest treasures of earth for the true riches makes the best of bargains. Poor Balaam! He was one of those who, having eyes, saw not (Jer. 5:21). In his case gold hid God.
A man once visited Robert Hall, the great preacher, to take exception to some statement he had made in a sermon. It was evident that the man was in bondage to the love of money. Hall opened his Bible and, pointing to the word "God," asked, "Can you see that?"
"Certainly," replied the man.
Then the preacher took a gold coin and placed it over the word. "Can you see it now?" he asked. The man understood and, by God's grace, his spiritual sight was restored.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Help us, O God of our salvation,...and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake" (Ps. 79:9).
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