The King of Israel and His Kingdom

Balaam was telling the pagan king Balak what Israel would do to his people in the latter days (Num. 24:14). He was given a glimpse of the future of Israel, as well as the future of pagan nations (which would be destroyed).

He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox;He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? “Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.” (Num. 24:7-9)

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, and destroy the remains of the city.” (Num. 24:17-19)

Some important points to highlight from this prophecy:

1. Israel’s king will be higher than other kings and His kingdom will be exalted

2. Israel’s king will consume the nations, His enemies

3. Israel’s king is likened to a lion

4. Whoever blesses this king will be blessed; whoever curses Him will be cursed

5. Out of Israel, One Person shall have dominion

6. Israel’s king is said to be a Star come out of Jacob

7. This king possesses the Scepter (authority to rule)

This prophecy applies to none other than Jesus, the Messiah. I will expound on each point below. Please take the time to read the Scriptures for yourself.

1. Israel’s king will be higher than other kings and His kingdom will be exalted.

Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Rev. 19:16) While David’s earthly kingdom was exalted for Israel’s sake(2 Sam. 5:12), it was not everlasting in the strictly physical sense. Jesus’ kingdom–or the kingdom of God–is everlasting (2 Pet. 1:11, Psa. 145:14, Dan. 4:3), continuing from one generation to the next without fail (Dan. 4:34). This kingdom possesses ALL peoples, nations and languages, and cannot be destroyed (Dan. 7:13-14). Jesus is the King of Israel and He did not deny it (Matt. 27:11), but He qualified His kingdom by saying it was “not of this world” (John 18:36). This is why His servants did not fight to put Him on an earthly throne.

2. Israel’s king will consume the nations, His enemies.

Jesus is the King who will consume all His enemies. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword with which He smites the nations (Rev. 19:15). In the day of His wrath, He will execute kings, judge among the nations, fill the places with dead bodies, and execute the heads of many countries (Psa. 110:5-6). He will consume the lawless one with the breath of His mouth and the brightness of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8).

3. Israel’s king is likened to a lion.

Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5).

4. Whoever blesses this king will be blessed; whoever curses Him will be cursed.

Whoever blesses Jesus by caring for those who belong to Him, will be counted as a sheep of His and blessed. Whoever does not will be told, “Depart from Me you CURSED, into the everlasting fire…” (Matt. 25:31-46) Whoever does not love the Lord Jesus, let him be anathema/accursed. (I Cor. 16:22)

5. Out of Israel, One Person shall have dominion.

Jesus is the One Person who rose from Israel having all dominion and authority. (Matt. 28:18) He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, and His enemies will lick the dust…all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him (Psa. 72:8-11). Jesus is the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting (Mic. 5:2). While David had temporary dominion on Israel’s throne, he acknowledged that the Lord’s dominion endures throughout all generations (Psa. 145:13). Jesus is both the root and offspring of David (Rev. 22:16), therefore His eternal rule perpetuates “David’s throne,” and fulfills the promise to him that his throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16). Peter declared, by the Spirit, that Christ was the fulfillment of that promise to David (Acts 2:29-36). The angel told Mary that Jesus would possess the throne of his father David forever (Lk. 1:32-33). Believers have come to Mount Zion–the city of the great King, the heavenly Jerusalem, the kingdom which cannot be shaken. (Psa. 48:2; Heb. 12:22-28)

6. Israel’s king is said to be a Star come out of Jacob.

Jesus is the Star who came from Jacob. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. (Isa. 9:2) He calls Himself the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16). As the stars’ unchanging position guides sailors safely toward their destinations, Jesus is the only unfailing guide by which to escape destruction. He is the light of the world and whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (Jn. 8:12). It is interesting that a star led men from the East to come worship “the King of the Jews” and the one who would “shepherd my people Israel.” (Matt. 2:1-6) This star seems to have been a sign that the prophecy was being fulfilled; the wise men certainly believed so.

7. This king possesses the Scepter (authority to rule).

King Jesus possesses the scepter of Israel. All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matt. 28:18) This fulfills another prophecy also–The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Gen. 49:10) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (Psa. 45:6) Jesus has been raised from the dead and is now seated in heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.(Eph. 1:20-21) Notice that He is already ruling in this age–as His ambassadors then, sent to earthly kingdoms, believers have the duty to urge people to be reconciled with the ruling King while the opportunity for mercy still remains, for He is angry with the wicked everyday. Psa. 2 declares that the King has been established on the holy hill of Zion, and we must Kiss the Son/bless Him lest we perish/are cursed (see #7 above). The Word of God has always been in charge, both before and after He was begotten as the Son, and He will have the final victory regardless of how many earthly kings and kingdoms rise and fall.

While the ancient nation of Israel did win victories over the pagan nations surrounding it, these types and shadows pale in comparison with how Jesus–King of Israel–would overcome every enemy and rule forever and ever on David’s throne. Truly all things written in the Law and the Prophets concern Him and His eternal kingdom! (Luke 24:44, Acts 28:23)