Last week we started to look at the story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 22-24, and found several lessons contained therein. Lesson one: You cannot serve God and money. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Lesson two: Character is more important than gifting. Gifting from God is wonderful, but if you don’t operate in love and have Godly character; then your gifts are useless (1Cor 13). Lesson three: Disobedience leads to frustration. Balaam was beating that donkey, because he knew he shouldn’t be going in the first place. He was taking out his anger on the animal. Today we call it “kicking the cat”. Lesson four: The spiritual realm is more real than the physical, and just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Faith is the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1)

This week, the first and main lesson is this: Whom God has blessed is blessed, and cannot be cursed. We see this specifically in Num. 22:12, 23:8, 19-23, 24:9-10. That is a Word from Almighty God to His children. Prov. 26:2 says the curse without cause shall not come upon you. Ps. 109:28 says “Let them curse, but God will bless; ..Let them be ashamed, but I will rejoice. There is no enchantment or divination against Israel. The Blessing of God cannot be reversed (Num 23:20). The only way witchcraft will work on you, is if you have faith in it. Jesus said, “Let it be done unto you according to your faith (Mt 9:29).”

God said He had not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor seen perverseness in Israel (Num 23:21). How can this be? Because God is a covenant God. If you do not understand covenant, you cannot understand God. He didn’t say Israel didn’t have iniquity or perverseness; He said He did not see it, or impute it. Like Romans 4:7-8, born again Christians are blessed, and our sins are not imputed unto us. Eph. 1:3 says we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. ALL spiritual blessings in Christ. Gen. 12:2-3 says that God blessed Abraham, and blesses those that bless him, and curses those that curse him. You might say, “Well, that was Abraham. It’s different now.” Wrong. Galatians 3:9 says those of faith (In Jesus Christ) are blessed with faithful Abraham.

God has commanded the blessing on His covenant children (Dt 28:8, Lev 25:21, Ps 133:3). He didn’t suggest the blessing; He commanded the blessing. When God commands something….need I say more? When I tell a brother or sister in Christ “God bless you”, I’m not making a request; I’m stating a fact. You are blessed! Some might say that was Old Testament, but may I ask: Do we have a worse covenant? No! We have a better hope (Heb7:19); a better testament (Heb 7:22); a better covenant based on better promises (Heb 8:6). It didn’t get worse, it got much better!

We are blessed because: We believe in Jesus (Jn 20:29); We can give into God’s work (Act 20:35); We hear God’s Word and we do it (Lk 11:28, Jm 1:25, Rev 22:7, 14); We endure temptation (Jm 1:12); We read God’s Word, specifically Revelation (Rev 1:3); We’re invited to the marriage supper of The Lamb (Rev 19:9); We have part in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6); We’re not offended or ashamed of Jesus (Lk 7:23); Men hate us for being Christians (Lk 6:22). I can go on and on. We are so blessed by God. We must know that as covenant children. The blessing has been commanded on us. It’s given in Christ, so it doesn’t come and go; because Jesus doesn’t come and go (Heb 13:5). Read Mt. 5:3-9 to hear Jesus speak of several blessings. Read Dt. 28:1-14, to see a partial list of God’s blessings (Read 15-68 to see what we’ve been redeemed from {Gal 3:13}; that will bless you as well).

In the end, Balaam tells Balak how to get Israel: The lust of the flesh (Rev 2:14). God’s children can’t be cursed; but they can curse themselves through disobedience. And that’s what they did. Balaam soon after got killed (Num 31:8); the wages of unrighteousness. Do you want to be a blessed child of God; or a crooked prophet like Balaam? The choice is yours. Got Jesus?

Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Until next time, rejoice in the Lord!