King James Daily Bible Study: From Cursed To Blessed
Date: Wednesday February 23, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 23-25
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-23
Details of Today's Reading: Balak's sacrifice to curse Israel, through God Balaam pronounces a blessing instead of a curse, Balak dismisses Balaam in anger, Balaam's Messianic prophecies, the Israelite men become enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian, and the Midianites to be punished for enticing Israel to sin.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
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 evil or afflict them 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, it is man bringing it about himself. You know, Satan may tempt us and poke at us, but he can not make us do anything we do not want to do any more than God can. There is one curse that all will be afflicted with and that is death, by one man, Adam, sin enter the world, passing that curse down to us, but God made a way for us to remove that curse by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” - Galatians 3:10-13.

A man named Balak tried everything he could to get God to curse the Israelites, he even managed to entice one of God's prophets, Balaam, to try and curse the people. Three times Balaam instructed Balak to build seven altars and seven sacrifices, but instead of being cursed, they were blessed.

“And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place...And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?..God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.” - Numbers 23:1-3,17,19-21.

Jacob is referred to as the Israelites, God will never reverse His blessing of eternal life to any of His people. No one can curse one of God's people, the more they do the more God blesses the accused. Today, if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior than you are one of God's people. Those who are saved may expect the ill will of hell, but God will not suffer real injury done to His people and what is done against them He takes as done against Himself and deals with them Himself. My Preacher often talks about a man he visited once while out soul winning, the man said, “Go to hell.” The Preacher replied, “I can tell that that would please you, but that is something that I can never do.” God will allow His People to be afflicted if we sin, but we will never end up in hell simply by our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ. “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 men, is foreseen after the third and final attempt on Balaam and Balak to curse the people.

“And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him...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 24:1,2,15-19.

Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open, he had heard the Word of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. Balaam, is foretold about not only his future, but of a seed, a Star, that will come from the seed of Jacob, he shall see Christ, but not be able to get near Him. Christ shall be King, not only of the house of Jacob and Israel, but of all the world. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” - Revelation 17:14.

God’s people are more endanger of the charms of a friendly, peaceful world than one by the terrors of war. Why? Godly people who mix with friendly ungodly people are quick to fall away from God. The Israelites began fellowshipping with the Medianites and Moabites thus began following their gods and corrupted lifestyles.

“And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.” - Numbers 25:3-11.

It is one thing to commit sin of your own doing, it is another to cause others to commit sin, God will not stand for someone causing His people to fall into corruption, especially immoral corruption. The curse that falls upon those who corrupt God's people is all upon themselves, not God, not Satan. We all have a choice, if you know Jesus Christ personally as your Savior then the curse has been removed and you are blessed with eternal life, while you may suffer affliction from time to time, nothing you do can bring back that curse. Satan may try to get you to doubt your salvation, people might try to curse you, or even entice you with their charm, but nothing or no one can remove the blessing that God has given you for believing in His Son. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38,39.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the the prophesied Star and Sceptre. Jesus is our bright and morning star. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” - Revelation 22:16.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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