Numbers 24 - Balaam's Final Prophecies | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Numbers 24 we have the last 5 of 7 prophecies by Balaam who was wrongly motivated, but spoke truly. Unlike the previous two prophecies, the Holy Spirit now comes upon the very unholy Balaam. This point is notable for a few reasons. Firstly, the idea that the Holy Spirit will not come on an unholy person is shown to be untrue.Even the gross sin, and evil motivations of Balaam were not more powerful than the intentions of God to work through him. Secondly, this demonstrates that having the gift of prophecy is not a guarantee that one is themselves holy. Not only in this example, but later with King Saul, we see that even the unholy have prophesied, even accurately.Prophecy number 4 is the standout of Balaam’s seven messages. This must also be one of the most remarkable of all the Old Testament prophecies, even though coming from a false prophet. In that prophecy it speaks of Christ. Even Jews who don’t acknowledge Jesus, do acknowledge that this is a Messianic prophecy. King David, who came a few hundred years later, was a type of precursor of the Messiah, and there is a partial fulfilment of some parts of the prophecy in him, but the fulness is in Jesus Christ.Balaam didn’t actually return to Aram, as the next chapter shows. He presented to Balak an alternate strategy to undermine Israel, despite knowing God had determined to bless them. He set himself against the Lord, and died on the Moabite side as Joshua 13:22 records.