Slideshow image

Curses or Blessings

 

Nehemiah 13:1 - On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 

Nehemiah 13:2 - Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 

Nehemiah in the verses above is reminding his people of the false prophet Balaam who tried to curse Israel, but God turned the curse into a blessing.

Only God can do that. Joseph thought he was under a curse when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, but God turned the curse into a blessing, and Joseph saved his family along with all the families in Egypt. The Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh seemed to be a curse, but it too was turned into a blessing. Even the crown of thorns Jesus wore was turned into a crown of glory.

Malachi 2:2 - If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 

Here we read a contrasting story of how God can turn blessings into curses. The priests of Malachi’s day were bored with their religious faith; they were giving God their second best. Instead of being faithful to their covenant, they disobeyed the Word openly. God warned them: “The very blessings you enjoy will become curses to you if you disobey me!”  Examples of this judgment are not hard to find; God can take health, money, family, and even friends, and turn them into curses if we fail to obey His Word.

Christ was made a curse for us that we might be able to turn our curses into blessings.

From Warren W. Wiersbe – Thoughts for Men on the Move