“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
– Numbers 24:17
This ancient prophecy may well be what launched the wise men on their long journey to visit Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews. 1400 years earlier, as Israel marched toward the promised land, Balaam spoke of a powerful king coming in the far future. By the time Jesus was born, this prophecy had spread through much of the Ancient Near East and those who studied wisdom looked for a star that would indicate a mighty king’s arrival.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the magi asked Herod, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” That star led them hundreds of miles to the home of Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of this promise of God. God is faithful in keeping His promises, even when it takes 14 centuries to happen.
What promises of God are you counting on? What promises are you resting in? What promises are you excited about? God is faithful and He keeps His promises. Live in faithful anticipation of those promises. #FollowJesus