“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: A star shall appear from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. . .” Numbers 24:17.
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6
In the Catacombs of Priscilla you will find one of the oldest paintings of the early church –a depiction of Mother Mary with the Christ child, and beside her, Balaam the gentile prophet, who is pointing to a “star,” the sign of the Messiah. This and other early paintings clearly identify the star of Jesus’ birth with Balaam’s early prophecy: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: A star shall appear from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. . .” (Numbers 24:17).
Balaam, a son of Abr…