I
tried to threaten my older brother once when I was six years old. Something he
did (or wouldn't let me do) made me mad, so I pulled out the little souvenir
pen knife my dad had recently given me and growled, "I'm gonna kill
you!". My brother got on his bicycle (I don't think he was scared) and
rode off down the street. In that moment, I was terrified because I thought I
had made him run away, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. When he
returned 15 or 20 minutes later, I sobbed my remorse and begged him not to
leave again. My curse was useless in the face of our familial bond.
Long
ago a mercenary prophet was hired to curse God's people. He tried to speak
against them, but only words of blessing would come out of his mouth. What else
would you expect from someone whose vocation is to be God's spokesperson? He
made three attempts at cursing them (it wasn't personal, he was just in it for
the money) and every time only good words would flow -- words of hope and
future greatness. The fourth time Balaam foretold not just the rise of Israel,
but the coming of Israel's Messiah. A Star would rise, a King would conquer.
When the itinerant ex-slave nation of the once-mighty Pharaoh was to come into
their own land, the Star would shine over them and defeat their enemies.
God's
promises always trump apparent threats or attempted curses. Facing devastating
circumstances or dealing with hateful enemies, the promise still rings true,
"a Star will come... a Ruler will rise." In your darkness, His light
will shine. In your fear, His strength will conquer. Because His love always
overcomes the curse.
T.
Benson
No comments:
Post a Comment