A Curse
Solomon the wise wrote, “The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just” (Proverbs 3:33). God’s curses are not like man’s curses. Humans curse others because they hate, fear or wish them harm. For example, Balak called the false prophet Balaam to curse Israel because Balak believed that false prophet could inflict harm on God’s children through spells (Numbers 22–24).
But God’s curses are not because of hate or anger. A careful examination to that in the Scriptures reveals that many of them are prophecies of the natural and unavoidable consequence of man’s rebellion against God. The misfortune of the sinner is because his persistence in sin has disallowed God from bringing him in line with the divine laws of happiness and success. It is the sinner’s actions that withheld God’s blessings.
Some of the worst curses in the Bible are found in Deuteronomy 28, and many of them are clearly warnings of the natural consequences of disobedience to God’s law. The Lord warned His children: “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and… in the country…” (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
The Creator’s hands are tied by man’s choice; He has no choice but to reward a person according to His own conduct: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:7).
A Blessing
Just as the wicked bring curses on themselves, the Lord also blesses the righteous. In the book of Deuteronomy we also read, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth…” (ch. 28:1-14). And in the New Testament, the apostle Paul encouraged the believers, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
It is up to man to decide if he wants to be cursed or blessed. The Lord says, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). God knocks at the door of every heart and when people open the door and invite Him in, He brings peace and blessings (Revelation 3:20) and they become His “treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). Then, the Lord makes their lives “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
