I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Numbers 24:17
“Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but shall not see Him nigh; not see Him as Job, who saw Him as his Redeemer, and saw Him for Himself. When He comes in the clouds, every eye shall see Him; but many will see Him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar off.
He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as a star and a scepter; the former denoting His glory and lustre; the latter His power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jacob and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by his golden scepter, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod.”
Matthew Henry (1662-1714) excerpt from his Complete Bible Commentary on Numbers 24:15-25.
How will you see the coming Messiah, Jesus, this Advent?
The star that will come from Jacob and the scepter that will rise from Judah point to the coming of Jesus. Henry notes that the wicked man in the text, Balaam, sees Christ like the rich man in hell sees Abraham, afar off (cf. Luke 16:19-31), and he rightly contrasts him with Job, who experienced Him as his Redeemer.
What does this have to do with generosity?
Here’s the connection. Because God is generous, He foretold the coming (“advent”) of the star and scepter, Jesus. Some people will miss the sign of His coming and not submit to His reign, because, like Balaam, they think they have things under control. I am speaking of the rich. Consequently, they will only see Him from afar. To behold him as near, we must seek Him and submit our lives to Him.