And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you." And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!"   Num 24:2-9, 15-19 (ESV)

Noel was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2006, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Florida International University. He has been involved in student ministry with University Christian Outreach (UCO) ever since, living in Belfast, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids. Noel became a lifelong member of the brotherhood in 2014. In 2024, he began working for UCO’s National Office in Staff Training and Regional Programs. Additionally, Noel serves as a Coordinator for the Light of Christ Community as well as a Temporary Elder for the Servants of the Word. This reflection is part of a series of meditations which The Servants of the Word are going through during the Advent season. Copyright © 2024, The Servants of the Word.

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