86. Prosperity and Abundance
Numbers 24:5, 6 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
This is the third time Balaam blessed Israel. In this verse the Lord paints a picture of fertility, prosperity, and abundant growth. This is a fairly common prophecy of the Messianic Age. When Messiah comes there will more fertility and abundance than even in the Garden of Eden. However, it will be spiritual prosperity and abundance. Jesus brought wellbeing and prosperity to the hearts of all believers in Christ. While Balaam views the encampment of Israel physically from the mountain, the Spirit of God shows him the glories of God’s people and how spiritually verdant and beautiful they are.
This promise of spiritual prosperity applies to the NT believers in Christ in picturesque images. The very tents, plain and simple though they appear, are beautiful. To the eyes of faith the dwellings of God’s people are “goodly,” beautiful and lovely because the Lord is dwelling there with His people. The valleys that God’s people are farming and cultivating are like gardens by the side of the river. When the Lord comes to dwell in a land He makes it lovely because He lives in the residents dwelling there. The aloe trees and cedar trees beside the waters are lush and verdant. The believer who meditates on the Word of God is “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does he prospers. [Psalm 1:3].”
Christ has restored Paradise to the hearts of those who believe in Him. The Thief said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” The kingdom and paradise is the same thing: it is the Spirit of God living and ruling in our hearts by faith. The promise says that we who believe in Jesus are living in such a paradise right now in the spirit, and One Day we will live in the Eternal Paradise in physical reality. Enjoy the goodliness and beauty of the tents and valleys and rivers and trees today. It is joy forever.