Man Cannot Curse What God Has Blessed


Numbers 23:8–10 (ESV) How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? 9 For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations! 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”

 These are the words of Balaam's first oracle to the Israelites after going with Balak's men and being paid and prepared to curse the people of God. In a stunning turn of events, Balaam can only bless those God has already blessed. This is good news and still rings true today. God ha blessed and man cannot reverse it. 

 Understand and remember, Balaam has been cajoled into this moment. He has been pressured financially and ceremoniously. He has been coerced by fame and notoriety. His ego has been played and he has been pandered to. For all intents and purposes, this is a slam dunk, curse Israel and get paid. He cannot. Once God has decided to bless - no man can curse, no matter how important, influential or powerful.

I wonder if sometimes the Church has forgotten this fact. I don't wonder, I believe it. If there is one thing we need to remember, God has been blessing man and His people since creation. The first blessing is in the first chapter of the Bible.

Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

It's as if God cannot wait to bless His chosen vessels. Though sin's curse comes upon man, God finds a man to bless the rest of the world in Abraham. 
Genesis 12:2 (ESV) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Ultimately, Israel failed. The sinned even after God blessed them with deliverance from Egypt. God blessed the priestly line of Aaron from the Levite clans to be in service of the Lord to that nation.

In fulfillment of the promise, Mary receives word that Christ will come from her womb. Her response is, "all generations will call me blessed." (Luke 1:48).

Finally and through our Great High Priest, we have the blessing of Abraham because of Christ. 
Galatians 3:9 (ESV) So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

In Christ Jesus we have the blessing of God. 

So my question again is, who can curse you? The answer is NO ONE. 

Stop acting like the world is against you. It may hate you. But it cannot derail God's work for you and through you. All things work together, He is faithful to bring to completion, He will supply all your needs, He will fulfill His purpose for me. Or my personal favorite, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

Make no mistake, the great lengths and impressive actions on the part of Balak exhibit what we should expect - the regular antagonism of a world at emnity with our Father. But we should always expect God's good work to prevail and the curses of men to fall flat! Be positive Christian! God has blessed you. No one can curse you.

Amen.

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