Monday, November 25, 2013

Man Made Curses

However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you” Deuteronomy 23:5.

If you have never read the story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 22-24, you have missed out on a wild ride. Balak was the son of the Moab king who had just witnessed the Israelites defeating the Amorites. He sent for Balaam who was a prophet with the power to speak blessings over people which would come true. He also could curse those who God cursed which would come to pass. Balak’s plan was for Balaam to curse the Israelites before they attacked Moab. Balaam’s proclamations on three separate occasions were the same…God’s children would be blessed and the curses would come upon those who intended evil. Balak learned something critical that day in which we as Christians must be confident. ....God will bring blessings upon His children in spite of man's evil intentions.

We have all been there when something in our lives are suddenly threatened. It may be our physical safety, our reputation or our financial position. We try to live a good and Christian life but tough circumstances arise and we feel as if a curse is hanging over us. We must be reminded that God will bless us if we remain faithful and He will handle the curses that life brings against us. We must affirm that we have a wonderful Lord and Savior who delights in blessing His children and relentlessly curses those who have evil intent. ‘“May those who bless you be blessed, and those who curse you be cursed” Numbers 2:9. There are mean situations out there along with mean people who intend to harm us and create situations that discourage us and bring about despair. We must keep our focus on God's abilities and promises when times bring about threat and fear.

O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is the man who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us Psalm 118:26-27. So whatever or whomever you face this morning, face it in the name of the LORD and you will be blessed from God.

 

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