Moment in the Word

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a STAR out of Jacob, and a SCEPTER shall rise out of Israel...
After singing the delightful children's carol countless times, nearly everyone has heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but few actually know what the term means or where it originated.
Long, long ago... when Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land, there was an evil king in Moab named Balak who feared that Moses would invade his land. So, Balak sent messengers to a magician named Balaam who was the son of Beor in Pethor, a city of Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates. (You might remember the Bible story of the talking donkey that tried to warn Balaam about the Death Angel, standing in the way to kill the stubborn sorcerer.)
The wicked king asked the magician to curse God's people and Balaam tried three different times; however, each time the sorcerer prepared to speak a curse, God declared a blessing by using the man's mouth. After the third time of failing to bewitch Israel, the wicked king was so mad that he slammed his fists together and told the magician to quickly leave.
Preparing to go back home, Balaam received one last vision. He saw the arrival of a great leader who would be born many years later, "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh." Also, a new star would announce the birth of this powerful person, "There shall come a STAR out of Jacob." This mysterious individual would be a future king of God's people, "And a SCEPTER shall rise out of Israel."
After telling angry Balak the final vision,  Balaam returned home and "advertised" (published) the prophecy to all the other Babylonian "wise men" (magi - magicians) about the marvelous star that would appear when the mighty king was born (Numbers 24:14).
Thousands of years passed, but the magicians of Babylon never forgot what their old teacher said. They waited and watched until Jesus was finally born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, "And behold, there came wise men (magicians) from the east (Babylon) to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.... 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:1-15
So, on Saturday, January 6, 2024, Christians around the world will celebrate Epiphany - twelve days after Christmas, when wise men seek Christ who was born to be THE KING, according to the 4000-year-old prophecy of Balaam - the magician from the city of Pethor on the banks of the Euphrates in the land of ancient Babylon.
And now you know!