88. Victory over Enemies
Numbers 24:8, 9 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cured is he that cureth thee.
Balaam’s prophecy for Israel continues with the promise that the Kingdom of God will destroy the Enemies of the Kingdom. We have the Kingdom of God that lives and reigns within us. That kingdom within, where the Spirit rules and Jesus is King, will eat up the unbelieving enemies of God, and of us. The People of God are pictured to be as strong as the strong animals that we see and hear about: He (the kingdom) has the strength of a unicorn. The unicorn may or may not have been mythical; if it once existed, it does no longer. But it was known for its almost supernatural strength. This kind of strength God promises to us, His own people living in His Kingdom. This unicorn breaks bones and pierces with arrows. (In the mixed metaphor, a unicorn shoots arrows.)
He (the nation of God’s people) is also like a lion, the king of beasts; the great lion, the strongest of animals, crouches and lurks, ready to pounce whenever he is stirred up by an approaching evil prey. This is the Lion of the tribe of Judah with great strength to defeat the Enemy, who also looks like a slain lamb. This mixed metaphor shows that the strength of a Lion resides in the sacrifice and vulnerable love of a Lamb.
Whatever metaphor is used, the truth is the same: we have the promise of strength to overcome all spiritual enemies. God promises that we will drive out Sin, Death, and the Devil from the kingdom of God within us. The Blood of Jesus Christ and the Strong Name of Jesus purges this “Land” that lives within.
The promise given to Abraham is repeated: “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cured is he that curseth thee.” This enduring promise is significant for us who believe in Jesus, because no power on earth, or in heaven, or under the earth can bring us down. The enemies will flee. We just believe and confess the Gospel.