Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 23:25 to Numbers 24:9. This Scripture spans two chapters. Here is are two links to the two chapters – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+23&version=NASB
and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2024&version=NASB
I quote the following verses in Numbers Chapter 24.
“1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 He took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 “Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like aloes planted by the Lord,
Like cedars beside the waters.
7 “Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be higher than Agag,
And his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 “God brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will crush their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his arrows.
9 “He couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.” Numbers 24:1-9.
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“Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.” comes from the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
“1 Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3.
Galatians Chapter 3 also refers to this blessing. “Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” Galatians 3:6-8.
And just like there is the contrast between the blessing and the cursing in today’s Scripture, there is the contrast between the blessing and the cursing in Galatians Chapter 3.
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:10-14.
So, when we read today’s key sentence (“Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”), the blessing and the cursing are not just about saying either nice words about Christians or bad words about Christians, but more importantly, the blessing arises when we have faith and build up faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, and the cursing arises when we live by the Law and raise up the Law.
“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (The Curse) For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (The Blessing) … I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. (The Curse) … I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. (The Curse)” Galatians Chapter 5: Verses 4, 5, 10, and 12.
“So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” (The Blessing) Galatians 3:9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 