We read in Numbers 23:11, Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them." (GNB)
As we continue these studies on the church, we realize that many people have not understood the importance of church, and hence they prioritize studies, work and business over church. We are learning that there are some important aspects of the church that we can pick up from the life of the Israelites as they journeyed towards the Promised Land.
Balak the king of Moab was terrified with the growth and progress of the Israelites, and he wanted to stop this. With this in mind, he urged and bribed the Prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel so as to hinder their advancement.
The two important words to note in this verse are curse and bless. Balak invited Balaam by offering him lots of money and gold with the one thought that he would pronounce a curse on the Israelites.
There were some unique characteristics about the people of Israel.
The church is separated for the Lord
Firstly, they lived alone, and were a people separated unto the Lord. They were not a people who lived like others, and did not follow the traditions of those around them. There was a huge difference between the people of Israel, and those around them.
We too as the church are a people set apart for the Lord. The Lord instituted the church to go into the world, and be a witness for the Lord. Sadly, the church has allowed the world to come into the church. What has happened over the years is that we as Christians have become content to attend church on Sundays, just like people of other religion who make it their duty to visit their place of worship once a week. Through the week there is no difference between us who call ourselves children of God, and the people of the world. This is a dangerous place to be in when we as a child of God live in a way that is in no way different or distinct from those in the world. If you are a businessman for example, the way you do business should distinguish you as one who belongs to Jesus. So also is you are a student or an employee at a work place your life must testify to others that you are a child of God, set apart for the Lord. We can in no way call ourselves a church if we do not have this clear distinction from those around us.
The growth of the church is unstoppable
Secondly, the growth of the church cannot be controlled by anyone. God gave a promise to Jacob that the people of Israel would be like the dust of the earth. Many kings, powers and authorities tried their best to destroy the church, but failed miserably. The fact is that the church is not built by any man or by the schemes of man or the strength of any man, but is built by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus said He would build the church upon the rock, and the gates of hell could never prevail against it. Anyone who tries to fight against the church will himself be destroyed. Just imagine a person driving a huge truck up a mountain trying to dash against a rock because he was driving a sturdy truck – we know what the outcome would be. Nothing will happen to the rock, but only the truck will be damaged. That’s exactly how it will be for a person who tries to fight against the church of God. The growth of the church is not based on man’s word, but on God’s word. Any number of orders by governments, prohibitions or schemes of men can never stop the growth of the church. Every word of God will be fulfilled, and Jesus said that not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until they are all fulfilled.
The church is blessed by God
Thirdly, the church, the people of God (we are not talking about the building) are blessed by God. We are the temple of the living God, and God has blesses us. Even if one as strong as Balaam rose up against the church, there is nothing they can do, but can only bless the church.
We read in Numbers 23:11, Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them." (GNB) that Balak was so perturbed that the prophet whom he had paid a huge sum of money to, whom he had called to curse the Israelites pronounced blessings on them.
What are curses and blessings?
Curses and blessings are words that are written or spoken. God’s authority is behind the curses and blessings that are pronounced.
The blessing of God on Adam and Eve
We read in Genesis 1:28, 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.”(ESV)
In the above mentioned verse we see that God blessed Adam and Eve with authority to rule over all of His creation, and also to be fruitful and multiply. God blessed man because God made man with His own hands, He created him in His own image for God’s purpose and Adam and Eve was living under the authority of God.
Blessing therefore is not just giving something to someone. Some people will say they are so blessed, meaning they have a good family and possessions, but this is not the blessings we are speaking about.
God cursed the Serpent
However we read in Genesis 3:14, The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.(ESV)
God spoke words of curse at this instance because the ones whom He had created had given in to the cunning schemes of the evil one, and hence they were cursed by God. The blessings on God rest on those who live in obedience to Him, and the curses of God rest on those who choose to rebel against the authority of God.
God does not wish to curse His people, but when the people of Israel rebelled against God they forfeited the blessings that were duly theirs. In His anger God forbade the lakhs of people who started off from Egypt towards the Promised Land from entering it. These were the people who crossed the Red Sea, who ate manna in the wilderness, and drank from the rock, who also saw the mighty wonders of God. However, they rebelled against God, and ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty long years, and none of that generation could set foot in the Promised Land.
The three-fold blessing
We read in Numbers 6:22-27, The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” (ESV)
This was the blessing that Aaron and his sons had to pronounce on the people of Israel. The root meaning in Hebrew for the word ‘bless’ is to ‘kneel down.’ This does not mean that God is kneeling down to us, but the picture we have of God blessing us can be described this way. Here’s an imagery that could help describe this. Have you noticed how when some adults want to talk to a little child or want to give the child a gift, they will go down on their knees so that they are at level with the child before they do so. The blessing of God is such that God the Father came down to our level when He sent His Son Jesus as a gift into this world.
The blessing goes like this; the Lord blesses us and the Lord also keeps us. When the people of Israel were wandering through the wilderness, it seems at night they would place thorn bushes all around their flock so they would be safe at night. So also the Lord puts a hedge around us to keep us safe. Remember the words of Satan to the Lord regarding Job, Satan told the Lord that Job was safe because God had put a hedge around him. The enemy wants to destroy us, but God protects His children.
This is the blessing of God for the church too. The Lord comes down to bless us, and He also protects, and keeps His church.
The next part of the verse says that the Lord will make His face to shine upon us. This is what God the Father did when He sent His Son Jesus to the earth. Up until then man could never behold God, but God made it possible for man to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus. The Lord is also gracious to us, and it is only by the grace of God that we have been saved.
We then read that the Lord will lift up His countenance upon us, and give us peace. This was made possible by the Holy Spirit of God who indwells us, and gives us His peace.
In the above mentioned verses note how the phrase ‘The Lord’ is used three times, which is why we call it a three-fold blessing. We see that the triune God is represented in these verses beautifully where the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are all revealed. This was the blessing that God asked Aaron to pronounce over the people of Israel.
In the New Testament, Paul gives a similar blessing when he pronounced, ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit’ should remain with us.
It was to such a blessed people that Balaam a renowned prophet of God thought he could curse.
We read in Numbers 23:8, How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? (KJV)
Balaam understood that he could never curse the ones whom God had blessed, because God did not permit him to do so. As long as we live as children of God, we can be assured of God’s blessings on us. However, when we walk away from the Lord deliberately, we will put ourselves in harm’s way.
We read about an incident in 2 Samuel 16, where a man named Shimei from Saul’s clan cursed David. As long as David was on the throne as king, Shimei was in subordination to David. When David was in trouble, and running away to protect himself, Shimei boldly cursed David. One of the men in David’s army, referred to Shimei as a dead dog, and asked permission to finish him off. However, this was David’s reply in 2 Samuel 16:10, But the king said, If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”(ESV)
Here’s a great counsel for us that we should not retaliate for every word that is spoken against us. Neither do we have to justify ourselves. If we can remain silent, the Lord will fight on our behalf. We usually get angry and feel we have to get even, but let us be reminded that this thing comes from our flesh. A man of God told me we as children of God must allow God to judge and avenge and never take it upon ourselves to take revenge on others. The moment we take up arms to get even, the Lord will step back, and allow us to fight a losing battle. When harsh and false allegations are poured against us, we must still choose to remain silent, and not retaliate.
Shimei spoke without control not realizing that he would have to give an account for his words one day. Every unnecessary, idle word and words spoken in secret will be exposed, and will have to be accounted for one day before the Lord.
When David was re-instated back to his throne, Shimei was the first one who fell before him, and sought his pardon. David immediately decided to forgive him. However, when David’s son Solomon succeeded his father as king, David mentioned to him about the disrespect that he had received from Shimei. David asked Solomon to keep an eye on Shimei because of the way he had treated him. Though David forgave Shimei, after his death Solomon as king gave an instruction to Shimei that he was to remain within Jerusalem, and never go out for any reason. After a few years Shimei forgot the protection that he had under King Solomon, and he defied his words and went out of Jerusalem to search for his slaves who ran away from him, and on his return lost his life for disobeying the king’s orders.
In matters pertaining to God, His kingdom and His justice it passes on from generation to generation. Often like Shimei we are not aware of God’s protection, and His blessings upon our lives until it is taken away from us. Only as long as we live in the presence of God are we assured of God’s protection over us. Let us be cautious that no unnecessary word will ever proceed from our mouth.
Why was Balaam unable to curse the Israelites?
We read in Genesis 22:15-18, And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (ESV)
The reason God blessed Abraham was because he obeyed God. If we want to be recipients of God’s blessings we have to firstly obey God’s word. Obedience brings God’s blessings on our lives.
This was the reason why Balaam could not curse the Israelites because they were a people blessed by God.
Abraham stood within the circle of God’s protection, and God’s blessings were confirmed for him and his descendants. God told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heaven, and the sand on the sea shore. Abraham also was assured by God that none of his enemies could prevail against him.
No power however mighty can prevail against God, and against those who stand on the word of God, and His promises. We should never walk out of God’s protection like Shimei did. Also we should not involve ourselves in things that do not please God. There should be no room for hate or gossip. If we deliberately keep sinning, we cannot expect the blessings of God.
Let us see the blessings that were pronounced on Abraham when God first called him.
We read in Genesis 12:1-3, Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 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. 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.”(ESV)
If we study these verses carefully there are seven blessings that God pronounced on Abraham.
1. I will make you a great nation
2. I will bless you
3. I will make your name great
4. You will be a blessing
5. I will bless those who bless you
6. Those who dishonor you I will curse
7. Through you all the families of the earth will be blessed
God said everyone who blessed Abraham would be blessed by God, because Abraham was blessed by God. There is another part of this blessing that we need to take note of. Anyone who is blessed by God becomes a target of the enemy who will scheme, and plot to destroy these blessings that God has pronounced.
This was how Balak became a tool in the hands of Satan when he allured Balaam to curse the people of Israel. Whenever, we are objects of God’s blessings the enemy will do his best to sabotage God’s blessings.
God also told Abraham that everyone who curses him will be cursed by God. This thought comforts us, and we do not need to be in anguish about those who curse us. We do not need to be anxious about all the things that people say against us, because we are safe and protected as long as the Lord is with us. If you observe the judgement of God in these last days on those who work against His people is immediate, and not delayed. We too should be careful to keep our steps firm, and stay safe within God’s divine protection.
We read in Numbers 22:11-12, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (ESV)
When the men from Balak came with the request to Balaam to come back with them to Moab so he could curse the people of Israel, Balaam did not send the men away, but accommodated them in his house for that night. Though Balaam knew that he had no right to curse the people of Israel, he still wanted to ask God to see if God would change His mind, and grant him permission to go with the men of Moab.
It is very important that we be cautious as to who we associate with, and who our friends are. If we are not watchful this will become a snare to us.
Balaam knew that he should not entertain the men from Moab, but the reason he did so was because Balaam was tempted by the money and gifts that Balak offered him. It’s obvious that Balaam wanted to gratify his selfish desires, and worked for his own selfish gain.
Let’s keep in mind that if we entertain those who God does not approve of, we will only bring curses into our house, and forfeit all of His blessings. Unnecessary friendships will defile our home and families.
We read in Numbers 22:9, And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” (ESV)
God questioned Balaam as to who the men were whom he had entertained in his house. We read in Numbers 22:12, God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
We must remember that when God forbids us to do something and when God says ‘No’ it is best for us to submit to God’s will.
For Balaam his love for money, his selfish desires, and worldliness drew him away from God and made him keep company with those whom God did not approve of. God clearly told Balaam that he was not to go with the men from Moab or to curse the people of Israel because they were a people blessed by God.
We are a blessed people, and God will not allow any curse that people speak to work against us. However, we must say within the ‘Jerusalem’ which is a symbol of God’s protection. Remember that as long as God kept that hedge around Job, the enemy could not touch him. Let’s keep repeating that we are a blessed people, and none of the curses that people have spoken against us will materialize. God will certainly bless us, our families, the work of our hands and the ministry that He has entrusted to us. Every word that was spoken against us, every false allegation first reached God’s ears before we heard it. Just commit it all to the Lord, and He will vindicate. Let us set aside all our bitterness, anger and un-forgiveness and give all of our hurts into the hands of the Lord. May we always remember that we as a church are the people of God who are blessed by God.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by : Sis. Esther Collins
