Today’s Reading:
Numbers 24: 1-14
“Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee” (v.9)
To be “blessed” means to receive blessings, and a blessing is an increase in a specific thing or way, which can be divine or natural. A divine blessing is a godly or supernatural increase or favour or support or reward, whose source is God, given to an individual or collectively to a people.
Blessings from God can come in different area and ways such as: resources, good health, protection, God’s presence, eternal life and so on. Blessings are mentioned throughout the Scriptures, starting from when God blessed the first human creations (Adam and Eve) in Genesis 1:28, with fruitfulness, multiplication, and to replenish, subdue and have dominion over all other things created. After some generations had emerged, up to Abraham, God blessed him by promising to make his name great and becoming a blessing Gen 12:2-3). As part of the blessings, God said He would bless them that blessed him and curse him that cursed him (Abraham), and in him would all the families of the earth be blessed (v. 3). The promises of these blessings were later manifested through Jacob (Israel), one of Abraham’s descendants, whose children were further blessed severally by God, as a chosen nation. These Israelites are recorded to have been promised blessings in all the areas listed above (Number 6:24-26, Deut. 28:1-13, Mal 3:10, Jer. 17:7-8), especially if they obeyed God’s commandments and instructions.
Aside from those in the Old Testament, God’s blessings are also recorded in the New Testament books. Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 1:3 makes believers to know that they have been blessed by God, with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. Some of the things that qualify a person for blessings with God include relationship with him; righteousness or right standing/walk with him, which generally results in favour from Him (Psalm 5:12); trust in Him (Ps 34:8); mercy to others; obedience to Him; service to Him, including giving to the needy (2 Cor. 9:8). What is a curse? It is a strong supernatural word which is invoked to cause harm, injury, or unpleasantness on a person. To curse, therefore, means to utter or call on someone, a word that is harmful or unpleasant, or a wish of evil. This can be done to a person, family, group, nation; it can be verbal or written and can go from generation to generations (Deut. 28:14-64). The first to be cursed in the Scriptures is the serpent, who deceived Eve and the ground (Gen 3:14,17). Cain was the first man to be cursed (Gen 4:11-12). As the children of Israel were promised blessings, God also pronounced curses that could come on them if they were disobedient and did not follow His commandments and instructions (Deut. 28:15-68; Deut. 21:22-23).
In the New Testament books, references are also made to curses as Apostle Paul in Gal. 3:12 confirms to believers that they have been redeemed from the curse of the law, because Christ has been made a curse for them, as against the curse in Deut. 21:23. Some of the sources or openings to curses include idolatry, dishonor to Father and/or God, unnatural/illicit sexual relationships, disobedience and so on.
In our Today’s reading, it is recorded that it is the third time Balak, King of Moab had sent for Balaam, a seer from Aram, who was threatened to come and place a curse on the children of Israel (Jacob), who were encamped in the nearby, on their journey to the Promised Land in Canaan (23:1-30; 24:1-14). However, Balaam, who was instructed by God on what to say, (23:8) had told Balak that he could not curse whom God had not cursed. Balak was angry with him, and this went on three times. In 23:20, Balaam on the contrary, told Balak that he had received command from God to bless, and God had blessed and so he could not reverse it. At which point, Balaam recounted in verse 21-24 the history and relationship God had with Israel. Balak even requested that if Balaam could not curse Israel, he should at least not bless them. On the third occasion, when the Spirit of God came on Balaam, he spoke out to Balak, on God’s heart in favour of Israel (vv. 5-9). God said Israel would eat up the nations that were its enemies, break their bones and pierce them through with his armours. He concluded by saying that blessed was he that blessed Israel and cursed was he that cursed it. This statement is a confirmation of God’s blessings to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. Israel remained uncrushable because in Numbers 23:10, Balaam regarded Israel as a righteous nation, saying he wished his end would be like Israel’s. Also in Verse 21, Balaam speaking from the Spirit said God had not beheld iniquity in Israel, neither had He seen pervasiveness in him and that his God was with him. Further, he said, there was no enchantment or divination against Israel at the time.
As believers, one cannot be cursed as long as he/she remains righteous before God, obedient and in right standing, thereby finding favour with him. Ultimately, he/she receives blessings instead of being cursed. It should be noted that God cannot lie, repent of his words and his gifts (blessings) and callings are without repentance (Num. 23:19, Titus 1:2; Rom 11:29). Believers are encouraged to retain God’s blessings and, therefore, cannot be cursed with any curse.
CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank You for Your unspeakable blessings to us, in Jesus name.
Father, help us to hold on to Your blessings in righteousness, in Jesus name.
O Lord, may we never walk the path of unrighteousness, thereby exposed to curses, in Jesus name.
O Lord, by your redemptive power, break every curse on Your children and the nation at large, in Jesus name.
Father, deliver Your Church from lukewarmness, so that it can effectively break the curses on the people and our nation, in Jesus name.
Comments