Curses Into Blessings

Gn.12:1-3 Seed could choose a curse, Dt.27:11-26 Why would they?

Nu.22:1-6, Balaam – curse Nu.22:12, God overrules

Nu.23:11; 24:9-10 Dt.23:5, commentary (Josh.24:9f.)

BUT: some chose the curse, Nu.25

What does Dt.23:5 mean to us?

I. God, The Great ‘Reverser’

Agents Personnel Results

Satan

Gn.3; 4; 37; Ex.1; Est.3; Lk.1-2

God

Gn.3; Gn.4; 37; Ex.2; Est.9; Lk.1-2; Ac.1

Balaam Curse

Balaam Bless

I. God, The Great ‘Reverser’

II. God Can Turn OurCurses Into Blessings

Lk.6:22-23

We are never more like God than when we . . . Love our enemies Turn their curses into blessings

Lk.6:28 1 Pt.3:9, 14

Ro.5:1-4

What is a blessing?

‘A thing conducive to happiness or

welfare.’ Ct. Ro.5:1-4

‘What brings us closer to God...

even adversity.’ Cf. Ro.5:1-4

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger

Adversity versus prosperity

Summarized: Ro.5:2-4 2-3, access, hope (joyful expectation)

Exult, boast (3, 4, 11) 3, tribulations (suffering) 3, endurance. What about Rv.9, 16?

In Ro.5 it meets faith in God; we receive it as God’s fatherly discipline

4, character. Ac.5:41 4, hope

Illustrated: Ro.5:2-4

Hope

Tribula.

Endur.

Approv.

2 Co.1, Paul practiced it

W/o tribulation, no deliverance W/o deliverance, no appreciation for

God & His power These things equip us to help others

2 Co.1, problems oftenincrease our blessings

Make us appreciate them, 3 Teach us to rely on God, 4 Prepare us for service, 5-7 Demonstrate power of God, 8-10 Turn thoughts toward heaven, 11 Increase gratitude, 11 Prove our sincerity, 12

2 Co.1, Paul practiced it

Runner must be stressed to gain endurance Sailor must go to sea Soldier must go to battle

“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble” – Tho. Watson

Hb.12:1-2Hb.6:19

2 Tim.2:3-4

Ga.3: greatest curse,greatest blessing

8-9, fulfillment of promise to Abraham 10, cannot get it by Law

Judaizers expect it (Gn.12:3). Lv.18:5 Paul offers it to Gentiles (8; Gn.12:3)

13, God cursed Christ for us

Redeemed us: to purchaseout of slave market

A cursed Messiah? “It is not less preposterous to say, the Son

of God died, than to say, the Son of God was a sinner” – Luther

Dt.21:23 Lawless Jew; rejected by everyone Legally executed / cursed by Law

Jews: crucified Messiah?? 1 Co.1:23Dt.21:23

Perfect tenseGa.3:13

Simple past

Man’s greatest curse,cursed (Gn.3)

Mt.25:41, satan eternally cursed Mt.25:34, saints eternally blessed

And there shall be no more curse,but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him – Rv.22:3