Monday, September 11, 2017

Turning A Curse Into A Blessing

Yesterday, the phrase 'turned a curse into a blessing' came up in conversation so I decided to look up the phrase in the scriptures. I will never see that phrase the same way again.

In our conversation, we agreed that God is the only one who can 'turn a curse into a blessing'. People can't do that. People can make the best of something but they don't have the transforming power.

The two places this phrase is used are here...

"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever, because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you." - Deuteronomy 23:3-5 ESV

"On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them - yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent." - Nehemiah 13:1-3 ESV

Balaam is a mysterious person. He is not involved with Israel but he speaks to God and hears from Him also.

Numbers chapter 22 to 24 outlines the account. Israel's enemies come to Balaam seeking to hire him to curse Israel. He lets these people stay in his home and brings the request to God again and again hoping God will 'change His mind' and say 'Yes'. Balaam is seduced by the money and the challenge and tries to curse Israel but Balak brings him to three places to curse Israel but each time Balaam utters a blessing and even gives prophetic utterance about the Messiah.

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" - Numbers 24:17-19 ESV

The talk about a 'star' and 'scepter' point to Christ and they are unique references given nowhere else quite this way. People can make the best of a situation but only God can reveal His Son to people in the midst of great opposition.

Perhaps folks want to lay low when it comes to their Christian life. They worship in their own way but at work, no one would ever know that 'they name the name of Christ' but a person who has enemies because of the faith also has this dynamic working.

"And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said,

'The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.'

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 'I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.' " - Numbers 24:2-10 ESV

Yes. Sorry, Balak. God isn't ever going to curse Israel. He will deal with them but never ever curse them. You tried to curse Israel only to discover some interesting facts about the future of Israel's enemies.

"Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, 'Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.' And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, 'Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.' And he took up his discourse and said, 'Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.' Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way." - Numbers 24:20-25 ESV

Say God's name. Use words like 'Jesus', 'The Cross', 'Heaven' and 'Hell'. If you do some will conspire against you but the curse will become a blessing and you will have special insight into Messiah and the favor of God or you can live spouting bland generalities to fit in and miss seeing how intensely God loves and favors you.

I will never see this phrase the same way again. God does turn situations and give us an advantage when it looked like we were at a disadvantage but that is not quite the blessing outlined here. The blessing is a glimpse into grace and the person of Jesus Christ.

Amazing.

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