Fear Not

“How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Numbers 23:8, ESV)

The situation was that Balak, king of Moab made an allegiance with Midian because of the perceived threat of Israel. Balak, summoned Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and asked him to curse Israel. While we regard Balaam in a negative context as a prophet whose passion for money clouded his judgment, his words do bring us some spiritual truths.

Here is a principle that should encourage us as believers. It is impossible for anything or anyone in heaven or earth to curse what God has chosen to bless. God had chosen Israel as a special people and entered a covenant of blessing with Abraham.

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:3, ESV)

The Abrahamic covenant promised a blessing on the nation and not a curse. The promise was for Abraham and his descendants. Even if Balaam wanted to curse the nation of Israel and even if he had the powers to pronounce a curse, he could never curse God’s chosen people.

Here, as the elect of God, we are also recipients of the promised blessing.

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:8-9, ESV)

God has blessed us along with Abraham. Therefore, as believers in Christ, there is absolutely no power in heaven or earth that can curse us. Thus, believers should not worry about superstitions or fear any curses invoked by anyone, for the Lord has blessed us with His providential protection. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).