“Turning a curse into a blessing.”
Have you ever heard that phrase? It sounds like some kind of spiritual chemistry experiment. A little bit of this, a drop of that and presto! A curse becomes a blessing!
But that’s not the way it works.
It’s a tailor-made idea for pastors and preachers who want to encourage their churches. No matter how hostile the forces against you are, you can come out ahead.
That’ll put a spark in your soul!
And this isn’t some made up sentiment. It occurs twice in the Old Testament.
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation. 4For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. 5However, 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 23:3-5
“On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, 2because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)” – Nehemiah 13:1-2
These accounts deal with the same incident. The Moabite king Balak hired Balaam to prophesy a curse over the Israelites. He feared them because of what God had done to the Egyptians on their behalf. He could be next!
To keep that from happening, Balak wanted Balaam to speak a curse over the nation. In this context, this meant getting the gods of the area to harass the Israelites and drive them away.
God allowed Balaam to speak, but each time, words of blessing came out of the prophet’s mouth.
No curses!
This shows that God is always in control. The gods of the nations have power, but the Lord overrides them.
Especially when it comes to the welfare of His people.
God’s sovereignty doesn’t excuse the behavior of Balaam and Balak. Sin is sin, no matter the outcome.
Centuries earlier, Joseph said as much to his brothers:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:20
Jealous of their brother, ten of Jacob’s sons sold Joseph into slavery. They thought they’d gotten rid of their problem, but God wasn’t finished with him.
Some thirteen years later, with a famine ravishing the land, Jacob sent the ten to Egypt to buy food. Little did they know they shop for their groceries under Joseph’s watch!
They intended to remove Joseph from the family but he was the one who saved the family! That’s turning a curse into a blessing!
We can see this principle established in the Old Testament. Does it work in the New Testament, too?
Yes, it does!
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” – Galatians 3:10-14
There’s nothing wrong with God’s Law; it’s perfect. But the problem is us! We’re sinful; we don’t live up to divine standards. We fall short.
But Christians find an answer in the Lord Jesus. Failure to keep the Law leads to a curse. But faith in Christ results in great blessings.
Well before God gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai, He established a covenant with Abraham. It’s summarized in a simple verse:
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6
The Law didn’t negate this principle. Faith in God, and in His Son Jesus, secures divine blessings.
We have proof of this in the cross.
Jesus offered Himself as a curse so we could receive the blessing of the Spirit.
This means that no one needs to suffer under a curse any longer. The cross is exhaustive; it covers every aspect of our lives.
We can’t earn God’s blessings, but we don’t have to. Faith in Christ suffices. He’s all we need!
When we trust in Him, God turns curses into blessings for us.
It’s not chemistry; it’s the cross!
That study was a real blessing! Being reminded of what Christ has done for us always fills my heart with joy. Once again I thank Jesus Christ for all he has done and continues to do for us. We will continue to put our trust in Christ alone for our salvation and all the blessings we have received and continue to receive!
Amen, Barb!