King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Turning Curses Into Blessings
Date: Wednesday February 15, 2012
Today's Chapters: Numbers 22-24

Hello My Friend,

The word curse is defined as the cause of evil, tribulation, misfortune, or trouble, to afflict one with great evil. While God does allow His people to face some trials and tribulations, it is impossible for Him to cause great evil or afflict us with great evil. Many people will question how God can destroy a nation or allow such evil to take place in the world, but God is not the one who brings about these curses. While Satan executes them, man submits to them all by themselves. You know, Satan may tempt and provoke us, but he cannot make us do anything we do not want to do any more than God can. We are given countless examples in the Bible that prove that very thing.

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents...There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:6-9.

While curses can have some power, they can only go so far, they cannot overthrow God. The Jews were getting close to the promised land, as they were traveling through the wilderness news got around of how strong and powerful they were and that scared the people. As they were passing through Moab, Balak, the king of Moab, persuaded one of God's prophets, Balaam to place a curse on the children of Israel.

“He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed... And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.” - Numbers 22:5,6,16-19.

God did not want Balaam to go to Balak, He even went as far as using the donkey he was riding on to speak to him, but he continued. God's promise and warning to Balaam, was the more you try to curse my people the more blessed they will become. Yet, he had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might give him leave to go. God always warns us of the dangers we face, but just like Balaam, personal desires often persuade one into going against God's will. However, once Christ enters your life you are one of God's and nothing or no one can curse you, in fact, curses become blessings as long as we endure them with God's help. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” - James 1:12,13.

Balaam did meet up with Balak, three times he instructed Balak to build seven altars and offer seven oxen and ram sacrifices, in an attempt to curse the people or Israel, each time Balaam went to God to see what they curse would be, but instead of being cursed, blessings were foretold. “And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?” - Numbers 23:7-12.

Jacob is referred to as the children of Israel, God will never reverse His blessing of eternal life to any of His people. No one can curse one of God's people to the point that they lose their salvation, the more we endure the more God blesses us. Today, if you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior than you are one of God's people. Those who are saved may expect some affliction or chastisement once in a while for living in and out of God's will, but we will never end up in hell, we have been removed from that curse. The good that we do or even the bad does not determine our eternal state, trusting in and only in Jesus Christ to save you determines that state. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.

Those who oppose God and His people will sooner or later be made to see for themselves that they are only deceiving themselves. An amazing prophecy of Christ, who is coming to reign in great glory, not only over Israel but over all, is revealed after the third and final attempt on Balaam and Balak to curse Israel. “And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.” - Numbers 24:15-19.

Under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, God foretold the future prosperity and dominion of Israel as well as Balaam's own life for trying to curse Israel. A Star would come from the seed of Jacob, Balaam shall see the Star, but not be able to get near Him. Christ is that star and shall be King, not only of the house of Jacob, but of all the world. Many will get a taste of what Christ can do for them, but will never enter the Kingdom of God because they tried to curse God's people for their own glory. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened...Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:7,8,21-23.

Today's Psalm: 2:12 - “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

Today's Proverb: 3:33 - “The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

Today's Prayer: God, When we come up against afflictions and trials that exceed our own ability to endure we rely not on ourselves but on You, who heals the sick and raises the dead, who delivers us from death. It is only You that we have hope and confidence that You will continue to deliver us, that You will make a way to endure when there is none. God, keep me in Your Word, grace, and mercy, let me not be tempted to do things my way instead of Your way, help me to endure all temptation looking only to You for guidance. In Jesus' name. Amen

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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