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Genesis 12 Do not curse but Bless; the spirit of Balak In Gen.12:3 we have a prophecy of how all the people of the earth will be blessed. It will be through Abraham and his offspring, Isaac and Jacob. Some claim this was only said to Abraham and not to the Jews, to Israel. Abraham received the promise at 75 years old. Those who say this want us to believe that this promise only lasted 100 years until he died at the age of 175 ( Genesis 25:7), which mean it has nothing to do with Jacob. There is an insidious movement gaining strength that blames everything on Israel, this is found even among those who claim Christ is their savior, who was a Jew. Some say he was not a Jew, some say the Jews who have now are returning to Israel are not the Jews that the Bible speaks of. Which means God has made a big mistake. On replacement teaching being false. This matter needs to be settled in everyone’s hearts and minds and this can only be done be understanding the Scripture, not by opinion or politics. We need to understand spiritual history to have insight to this paradigm shift now taking place, for it can only be explained as a spiritual influence. When this began, Gen. 12:3 God took him from his land “ To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Let’s break it down. God promises a land to Abram, (Canaan) (Gen. 12:1, 7; 13:14-15, 17; 15:17-21; 17:8). Promises that Abraham would be a NATION, and greatly blessed (Gen. 12:2),Abraham's name would be great (Gen. 12:2c). Abraham will be a blessing to others (Gen. 12:2).this blessing from the beginning was intended to be extended to the Gentiles. And this last part is Gods promise to others because of these statements, those who bless you (Israel) will be blessed (Gen. 12:3a), and those who curse Israel will be cursed (Gen.12:3b). Abraham is the first Jew, God's covenant policy is to Gentiles as individuals and nations in their relationship to Abraham and his offspring. Since this does not make a distinction in blessing and cursing, this can secondarily include Jews who deny their heritage. As we watch how this unfolds with Abraham, it reveals what God meant. We learn more of what this promise entails. Again, Gen 12:7 “ the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” Gen 13:14-17 After Lot separates from Abraham, God tells him “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 1 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.” The Abrahamic Covenant (that was spoken in Gen.12), is reconfirmed through Isaac and Jacob and then to all of Jacob's descendants later in Gen.49). Gen 17:2 “I will make My covenant between Me and you.” He then says in v7-8 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations , for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”v.21 My covenant I will establish with Isaac, he calls it an everlasting covenant.” Abraham would specifically father one nation; Israel for whom the covenant would be with. Second, he would be the father to many nations in general; God signs and seals the Abrahamic Covenant giving the exact border lines. God tells Abraham to bring his only son to Mt. Moriah, to be a sacrifice. He does but God stops him in the action. Gen 22:16-18 God tells Abraham because he has “ not withheld your son, your only son-- blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Isaac is commanded to stay in the Land and not to leave it, for it is to Isaac and his seed that the Land will be given. Gen 26:2-3 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father .” God explains what the oath is, to give the descendants of Abraham the land and the covenant. God is absolutely consistent in what he spoke and should not be muddied today by people's theological or political bias Gen. 26:4-5 “I will give to your descendants all these lands ; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Gen 27:26 Jacob is being blessed by Isaac, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!”’ So we see that the promise of Genesis 12 is generational. Again this is affirmed in Gen 28:3-4” Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. “May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham.” Once one reads all on the subject they understand what is meant by the first statement to Abraham. So all of Abraham’s descendants are involved in the blessing in Genesis 12 which is why to curse Israel is to curse Abraham. When Muslims do this and claim to be children of Abraham they are coming against their own blessing. To Jacob who is called IsraelGen 28:13-15” I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”’\ This is confirmed later by the apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. … to your Seed,” who is Christ.” This is how all are to be blessed. Gen 49:1-2 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.” He ends in v.28of “twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.” The promises were made to both Abraham and his seed. The children of Abraham Isaac and Jacob were to possess all of the Promised Land. These blessings have not yet received their complete fulfillment but will come only in the Messianic Kingdom, ’ the kingdom age. One cannot accept the blessing of the Savior to the world if they don’t accept the one whom God gave the blessing to the world through; Israel. The provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant flow from Abraham to his offspring, unto the nation of Israel, to the world. This is why, those who bless you means Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. This is why are we to bless Israel? Because the blessing for the whole world comes from them. God ordained that the Messiah would come from the Jews (Jn. 4:22), so that all the families of the earth will be blessed. The one promised to Adam and Eve back in Gn. 3:15 would come through a woman’s seed, from the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Israel. How do people curse them? One way is to deny their status with God, which dishonors them his promises or to bring physical harm to them. To abuse them, despise them, consider them of little account, irrelevant and treat them as contemptible. Pt.2 The spirit of Balak God promised to Abraham in Gen 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Gen 26:4- 5 “I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” Balak was a king of Moab who appears in the Old Testament in Numbers 22—24. His story is in the context of the time of the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land. His name means to annihilate to empty. One of the clearest examples of God protecting his people is by His promise in Gn.12:3 is when Israel is on their wilderness journey, traveling to the Promised land ends up camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, which is across from Jericho. This is about 1400 B.C. The Moabites were a tribe descended from Moab, the son of Lot who was born of an incestuous relationship with his oldest daughter (Genesis 19:37). Moabites were well aware of the miracles that had accompanied Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Balak, son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Balak is terrified at the approach of the victorious army of Israel (Num. 22:2-5). The inhabitants of the cities in Israel’s path knew God was on the Israelites’ side and expected to be destroyed (because that is what they would do). They did not know that if they allowed them safe passage all would have been fine. Balak, the king of Moab, decides to seek out the prophets Balaam for help. He has the elders of Moab and Midian come to Balaam with money with the request to curse Israel. The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak. “ Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer the LORD speaks. At the time Balaam knows little about Israel, God has to tell him. Balaam is a gentile prophet, who was an diviner from the city of Pethor, on Euphrates River in Babylonia (Num. 22:5; Deut. 23:4). He is mentioned 49 times in the book through chapter 22 to 24 mostly. Num. 22:10-11”Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 'Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.' “ God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” And Balaam responds, “ Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: they have come out of Egypt, he has been asked to put a curse on them for me. So the king can fight and drive them away.’” But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” Num. 22:13-14 Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak , “Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to give me permission to go with you.” And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak , and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” So begins the many manipulative requests of Balak the king. Num 22:15 “Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.” Balak knew he could not defeat Israel by the strength of men so he solicited a prophet. Num 22:17-18 “ Therefore please come, curse this people for me.' “ Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.” Balaam has them stay with him overnight, Num. 22:20-21 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you--that you shall do.” So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.” Balaam did not wait to hear from them. Num 22:22 “God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. The donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand,” and the donkey turned and ran into the field. V.23-26 Balaam struck the donkey to get back onto the road. “Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards,” and the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, pushing herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot and he struck her again. The Angel of the LORD went further ahead and in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn, the donkey sees the Angel of the LORD, and lays down. Balaam's gets angry and strikes the donkey with his staff. What take place next is probably the most unique and unusual. Num. 22:28-30 The LORD opened has the donkey speak to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” V.29 Balaam answers, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” The donkey says, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.” Here is Balaam having a conversation with his donkey who is smarter then he. The LORD opens Balaam's eyes, he sees the Angel of the LORD in the way with His drawn sword and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. The Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. He tells him his donkey saved his life, I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” Balaam says to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” The Angel of the LORD then tells him, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.” Num 22:36 “Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab”Balak scolds Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” Balaam says to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” So Balaam goes with Balak, Balak sacrifices oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. Num 22:41 the next day Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal, to observe the extent of the people of Israel. After Balak builds 7 alters to sacrifice 7 bulls and rams Num. 23:5-9 he meets the LORD and who puts a word in Balaam's mouth, “Return to Balak , and speak.” As he is standing by the burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab. He said: “ Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, From the mountains of the east.' Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!' “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?” v:11-12 Balak is furious, saying to Balaam, “ What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!” So he answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” Then Balak has him come to another high place and builds 7 more alters and sacrifices. V.17-20 and Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken ?” He said:” Rise up, Balak , and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor ! V.19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. Balaam is told multiple times by God that He would not let him curse Israel. Balaam by saying this to Balak meant it is pointless in his request to pursue a cursing, because he was not dealing with a man who can be bought to change his mind, but with God who never lies. V. 21-24 he further says to Balak “ He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them. God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox. “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done!' Look, a people rises like a lioness, And lifts itself up like a lion; It shall not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain.” Then Balak said to Balaam, “ Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all!” So Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not tell you, saying, 'All that the LORD speaks, that I must do'?” Balak says to Balaam,“Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” “So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that overlooks the wasteland.”Balaam has Balak, build seven more alters to sacrifice. Now it seems he is just stalling for the inevitable outcome, he knows God will not change his mind. Balak asks Balaam, Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!' Num 23:8 He responds,“ How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?” This Echoes through time to our day, and should be taken more seriously, “Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel”(Num 24:1). He was leading them into the land of Promise that he first gave to Abraham in Gen.12. Num 24:2-4“The Spirit of God came upon him Balaamhe speaks:”The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open”V.8-9 “God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows. 'He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?' “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” Balak was relentless knowing their survival depended on their victory. Three times Balaam was solicited to speak against Israel, but were overruled by God, instead of cursing there were blessings. Num 24:10-11 “ Then Balak's anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! And what of this lionwho bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?(referring to Gn.49) ending with '“Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” A lion goes after his prey, and that is what Jesus will do when He returns to those who have cursed Israel. He first came as a lamb, but he does not come back as a lamb! He returns to fight righteously and in power for his people and land: Isa. 31:4-5: “ For thus the LORD has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, he will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise), so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; passing over, He will preserve it.” This promise will be enforced as promised, its completion is in Zech. 12:9: “ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” This is what will happen to those who today viciously and mendaciously oppose Israel without stopping to consider them God’s people, and it being their land. What many do not understand is that they are opposing God’s promise, his covenant and his Prophetic Word. This includes both secular and religious people (it includes liberal Jews and Christians). If this promise is no longer active, then all the families to be blessed because of Christ can no longer be valid either. This ancient covenant has you either for or against Jesus because of Israel. If this promise to Israel is not in effect any longer, what of the promise of God never flooding the earth again? Or any other promise made, such as” if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it ” (Jer. 18:7, 8). Num. 24:9 “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.”This applies to your view on Israel, who are still God’s ‘chosen’ covenant people. The people whom Jesus said would be restored into the land that He is coming back to rescue (Mt.25:31-46). And Balaam’s last statement, is his Messianic prophecy that pertains to Israel. Within the first books of the bible is written what will take place from Abraham’s offspring (Gen.12). We have this Gentile prophet who listened and spoke blessing to Israel speak one of the most magnificent prophecies in Numbers 24:17 ”I see Him, but not now; I beholdHim, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.” This is a vision that spans over 1,500 years prior to its fulfillment. It encompasses both the first and second comings. This star is not literal (radiance, glory) it refers to a person from the lineage of Jacob, (Israel) who possesses God’s glory and authority (Jn.17:5). Jacob, who birthed the 12 tribes of Israel (the nation), will produce the salvation that is to come from the Jews (Gn. 12). The scepteris the symbol of kingship. The Davidic dynasty descended from Jacob’s fourth son, Judah. Starting with David, the line of Judah’s kings continued from Solomon, The tribe of Judah had possessed this scepter, Balaam develops it further, introducing the person of the scepter spoken of in Gn. 49:9-10. Balaam was being bribed to curse Israel, but he instead prophesied of the coming of the Jewish Messiah by stating a star (a light) would appear in the heavens signaling out of Israel’s lineage a king, as he explains in his description, “a sceptre shall rise out of Israel,” (the sceptre is a symbol of a king). Gen. 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”Shilo is symbolic of the Messiah. The blessing for all the world is rejected or accepted, and this coincides with blessing or cursing Israel. |
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