Numbers 22:1-6: a reflection

1The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me. 6Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Balak, king of Moab, is terrified of Israel, and he devises a plan: he sends for Balaam, a famed diviner, to come and curse the people of Israel, so that Moab might defeat them. Come, curse this people for me, he pleads, for they are too strong for me; I know that whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed. Balak imagines that a curse pronounced against Israel could bring them down. But, as the story will show, Balaam is unable to curse those God has blessed; try as he might, only blessing comes out.

Notice Balak's futile scheme, and why it would fail. He sought to curse Israel, to bring evil upon them by a pronounced curse. But Israel was a people God had blessed, and no curse, however desired or however famed the one who pronounced it, could overturn God's blessing. What God has blessed cannot be cursed; the attempt was doomed from the start, for God's blessing is stronger than any curse against it.

That is a reassuring truth for those God has blessed. There may be those who wish us ill, who would, if they could, bring a curse upon us, who oppose and scheme against us. But no curse can overturn the blessing of God. Those whom God has blessed are secure against every curse; the ill will of others cannot undo what God has given. If you are troubled by those who oppose you or wish you harm, take comfort: no curse can overturn God's blessing. What God has blessed stands secure, and the schemes and ill will of others cannot finally prevail against those he has blessed. Rest in the security of God's blessing, which no curse can overturn.

Lord, Balak sought to curse your people Israel, but no curse could overturn the blessing you had given them; try as he might, the one he hired could only bless. Reassure me with that truth. There may be those who wish me ill, who oppose or scheme against me, who would, if they could, bring a curse upon me. But no curse can overturn your blessing. Those whom you have blessed are secure against every curse; the ill will of others cannot undo what you have given. When I am troubled by those who oppose me or wish me harm, help me take comfort that your blessing is stronger than any curse against it. Let me rest in the security of your blessing, which no scheme or ill will can overturn. What you have blessed stands secure; help me trust that.