In this episode God gave Balaam more parables. Parables that blessed Israel and cursed Moab.

So Balak became angry and told him to go back home. But first he told him, I brought you here to curse my enemies but the Lord has kept you back from being honored, so flee to your own place.

Balaam responded by saying, I told your men, even if you gave me all the gold and silver in your house, I could not go beyond the commandment of the Lord.

Then he began to take up parables and prophecies about Moab and various nations. Letting Balak know he was on a list of nations, that would be destroyed by Israel's armies.

He mentioned Agag and the Amalekites. The prophet Samuel would slay Agag. Haman was a descendant of Agag. He would seek to annihilate God’s people but after his plot was exposed he was hung along with his 10 sons, on the gallows he built for Mordecai.

Balaam said, he fell into a trance and saw a king coming. He said, I shall see him but not now, I shall behold him but not nigh.

Then he said, a star would come out of Jacob a sceptre out of Israel. Jesus was the star Balaam saw.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus said, he is the bright and morning star.

Here's the text:

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Jesus is the light of the world. Because of Him, a new day would come. He would destroy His enemies with His bright light.

Balaam also mentioned the goodly tents of Jacob. Something good would come out of Jacob's tents.

The prophet Jeremiah also prophesied about this goodly one. He called him the portion of Jacob. He said, All other people on earth were brutish because of their images.

But, the portion of Jacob was not like that, apparently something goodly was in Him. He was filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Yet, this goodly portion of Jacob would be God’s battle axe and weapon of war and would be used to destroy kingdoms.

Here’s the text:


Jeremiah 51:17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Jeremiah 51:18 They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Jeremiah 51:19 The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

Jeremiah also revealed that God has the ability to use gentile nations, to accomplish his will on earth.

Balaam’s prophecies also pointed to this when he gave the parable about Chittim.

He said Chittim would afflict Asshur and Eber. Asshur and Eber were descendants of Shem, forefather of Abraham.

Chittim would afflict Abraham’s descendants, but He would not overcome them.

Chittim was a descendant of Japheth, the father of the gentile nations. Famous for their ships, they were powerful merchants, who turned the world into one big marketplace.

Even God’s nation of kings and priests would become merchants. Forsaking their first love because of their love for the things the ships brought in.

Although afflicted by men of ships and commerce, their affliciton wouldn't last forever.

Because the light would come and He, would tell them the truth. And the truth was they were not to live like the gentiles lived.

The gentiles lived as if life was all about things. His followers were supposed to seek the kingdom of God first, by living a righteous life.

If they put God first, they would inherit eternal life and this was more valuable than anything they could ever own.

Yet, as they put the kingdom of God first, everything else would be taken care of. It was all about priorities. So he said to them.

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you