Blessed Beyond Curse In Christ

One of the troubling beliefs among many believers in Ghana is their emphasis on the dark world of evil to the point of obsession. They tend to associate life challenges, diseases, setbacks etc to generational curses, evil perpetuated by their ancestors which is having ramifications on them.

Very simply, generational curses are the belief that individuals inherit judgment for the sins and wrongs committed by their ancestors. Central to this belief is the “curse,” which makes it a weighty topic. For it means that many sufferers consider themselves cursed. Even cursed by God.¹

The Bible records an interesting event in Numbers Chapter 22 to 24  that has significance to the subject. For context, Israel is enroute to the Promised land. They came to a point in their journey they needed a thoroughfare in another nation. The King of that land, Balak is terrified because of the history of Israel’s conquest (Numbers 22:1-3). What did he do to deal with the situation? He contracted the services of a Sorcerer, Balaam to bring curses on God’s people (22:4-6). Now, right from the outset, God will tell Balaam “…You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12).

However, in his greed and covetousness, Balaam persisted in an attempt to curse the people but rather ended up pronouncing blessings on them (Numbers 23:8-12; 19-25; 24:6-10).

You Are Blessed In Christ

Before you proceed, as a believer, regardless of your struggles in life and with sin, know that in Christ, your life is blessed. Don’t be discouraged but continue believing God. 

There is a phrase in Numbers 23:1 worth all our attention which paints a picture of God’s blessings over his people: “It pleased the Lord to bless Israel” That’s a wonderful phrase. God’s enemy sought to curse God’s people, albeit, God’s promises of blessings to his people remained and Balaam couldn’t do anything contrary. The intended curses over God’s people were negated by the faithfulness of God. Balaam saw a lovely people whom he couldn’t curse. There are somethings in this narrative that ought to be internalised and believed by Christians. No one can bring a curse upon God’s people (Numbers 22:8; 23:19-20).

In Ghanaian Christianity, there is much talk of  generational curses, spells, juju etc. Faith has turned to superstition. If you are in Christ, no evil power of whatever names they are called has control over you. You are in Christ and secured. Never allow anyone to explain any circumstance in your life as evidence of a generational curse or evil spirits in your family harming you. Shake off that bad theology. In this narrative, we see clearly how God’s blessings on his people cannot be revoked.

Perhaps you have believed some of these lies about generational curses and family evil or are even nurturing the idea that maybe your challenges in life is linked to your family; a generational curse. I call on you to renew your mind and remind yourself of your status in Christ (Romans 12:1). In Christ, God has blessed you and nothing can over turn it. Indeed, your greatest blessing in Christ is that you are saved from sin, justified and reconciled to God “canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:14-15).

You Are  Fruitful In Christ

How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters (Numbers 24:5-6)

Balaam, paints a picture of God’s people using agricultural language which can be understood as fruitfulness: “Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river” This text should remind us of Psalm 1 which describes the person planted by rivers of living: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (v.3).

The believer has also been called to go forth and bear fruit for the Lord (John 15). A life planted in Christ doesn’t whither, it bears fruit. Your fruitfulness is linked to your connectedness in Christ. The Palms and aloes pictureed here are planted by the LORD: “Like aloes that the LORD has planted”

You Are Set Apart For God

We know the story of the Israelites; they were delivered from captivity in Egypt,  a picture of the world of sin. Balaam speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit of God noted that they were brought out of Egypt. That is a picture of a saved community. God delivered them from Egypt to fulfill his promise to them.

God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no  divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel (Numbers 23:22-23)

God is for them. Dear believer, God is for you. The God who saved you in Jesus is for you. No charge sheet can be laid against you: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33).

Despite our short comings, weaknesses and sins, the Lord Jesus died for a church who he is washing and cleansing to present to himself as a holy bride without spot. (Eph 5:25-27). Despite their rebellion, murmuring and disobedience, the Israelites in the wilderness were still God’s people who he wouldn’t allow a curse over.

Jesus Christ The Victor Over All 

In this narrative, Balaam saw a final Victor over evil. He saw Jesus Christ 

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” (Numbers 24:17-19)

This was a prophecy  looking forward to the Lord Jesus. He is the One who died to break the curse of sin and to redeem us from it’s clutches through faith: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged u on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might v come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).

In his fourth oracle, Balaam predicts the future advent of a royal conqueror who will triumph over Moab and Edom. An initial fulfillment of these predictions is found in 2 Sam. 8,2-14, 24:21 which describes David’s victory over the Moabites and Edomites. But his accomplishments prefigure the greater conquests of Christ (cf. Col. 215; 1 Cor. law is identif (Ex.216;Jud 15:25, 26 Rev 20:10, 14).²

Dear believer, if you are in Christ, believe this with your whole heart: you are Blessed Beyond Curses In Christ. This is an humble reality for us to walk the Christian life in faith and not fear.

References

1 Charlie Rampfumedzi, “Break the Power of Sin, Not a Generational Curse”, TGC Africa Edition, https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/break-the-power-of-sin-not-a-generational-curse/

2. R.C. Sproul, ed., Reformation Study Bible, Orlando, Florida: Reformation Trust, 2015