The Curse Won't Work

Bible Reading For Saturday 6 March 10:
Deuteronomy 21
Deuteronomy 22
Deuteronomy 23


Thought For Today “The Curse Won’t Work”

Deuteronomy 23:5

Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

The king of Moab who wanted Balaam to curse the children of Isreal must have forgotten what his name meant in Hebrew. Jews then as well as now named their children according their lineage, posterity, and character. The king’s name was Barak, which in Hebrew means “to be blessed”. Can we say, saved by his own skin (name)!

Lets look and see why the curse wouldn’t work. The Hebrew word for “blessed” is ASRE, which means “happy”. This word connotes the state of prosperity or happiness that comes when a superior bestows his favor(blessing) on one. In this case, the one bestowing favor is God Himself. This isn't when individuals seek God to get blessed, but when God seeks them out represent Him through a "favored" life. They can handle what God blesses them with and position others to be blessed in the process. God uses their influence and sanctified life to cause people to see God in them and ask questions about knowing who is this God that you serve. This is favor at its best!

The best way to describe being blessed and favored of God is closely resembles how celebrities and athletes who market their image and likeness for companies to sell their products. You see them in commercials lending their influence to products they believe in and utilize.

The difference is when God singles you out to represent Him, favor is bestowed in such a way that people will know that God is definitely with you. This isn’t about financial prosperity, but it is about the life you live daily representing the goodness of God. He uses your life to testify to others that it pays to serve God.

Look at Joseph’s life and all he went through. Every evil his brothers thought to do against him in reality was working to “bless them”. Joseph never complained about his trials because he learned that favor IS fair. God used the negative things said and done against him to bless others. This is why Joseph was picked out to be picked on. God doesn’t stop weapons from being formed against us, but He simply cuts off the power supply when satan seeks to plug up trouble. Potiphar's wife took Joseph's COAT when he fled from her advances, but God was the one who kept his CHARACTER intact!

If you look carefully at the life of Daniel, you see how the favor of God was fair. It’s important to note that God trusted these individuals with His blessings and favor. They were humble and teachable. Humility and certain trials keep them dependent upon God. At the same time God’s blessings elevated them, their trials kept their egos in check. God knows what works for each of according to His purpose and plan for each life.

You are too blessed to be cursed and too anointed to be disappointed. Sorry devil, but the curse won't work!