March 16

Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14

Balaam is still being pressured to curse Israel. But, he refused to give into the pressure from King Balak. Over Balak’s threats, Balaam stood firm on God’s Word. God gives Balaam a rare opportunity: To see the bright future that God has for Israel.

God showed Balaam that a star would arise from the line of Israel: “A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Balaam saw all the way through history when a Savior would be born into the world who is Jesus!

When Jesus was born, the heavens aligned to tell everyone watching the sky that something supernatural had happened. Angels found some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night. They announced that the Son of God had been born. It was His birth that put the final nail in the devil’s coffin. He represented the greatest triumph that God would get by redeeming His creation.

Jesus’ birth is the fulfillment of what Balaam saw. All of the evil of the ages was defeated when Jesus was born. Praise God today for having a plan to restore the blessing on our lives!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15