CURSE FROM THE FEARFUL

• DAY 278
• FEAR FILE: BALAK
• SCRIPTURES: NUMBERS 22:2-6

Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

We often underestimate the power of fear and faith to influence our actions. They can push us to do things we wouldn’t normally do, things that may seem strange to others. These spiritual forces have a strong impact on our behavior, even though they cannot be physically seen. They control our visible actions, reminding us that unseen influences can greatly shape our lives. In our text today, King Balak was motivated by his fear. He was so afraid of the children of Israel, that he was sick with dread. This fear motivated him to call for a prophet to come and curse them.

The goal of a curse is to set limitations on the carrier. There are two things we need to pay attention to in our text today.

Being

The first is that you do not need to do much to become a threat. Just “being” is enough to make your enemy afraid of you. The children of Israel were not a threat to Moab. In fact, God had warned them “Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.” He did not want the children of Israel to come anywhere near what belonged to Lot’s descendants, He had prepared their own inheritance for them.

However, Moabites seeing them being, living in their tents and going about their life was enough threat. Although they had just defeated the Amorites, they were not threatening the Moabites; they were just going about their business. You don’t need to do anything to anyone for them to be against you, just BE.

A Strategy

The second thing for us to note is that sometimes you’re facing attack or opposition because the enemy is so deathly afraid of you that he will do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t step into the fullness of what God has called you to do. He knows that if you do, chances are that you will become a problem for him in the future. To prevent this he will try all he can to curse you and put stumbling blocks in your way or some other strategy. Abuse, heartbreak, family issues, and all the likes, are just his attempts to limit you from stepping into the fullness of your purpose.

So you might be feeling afraid right now because the enemy is afraid that you might become something great and he needs to put a stumbling block in your way. Listen to me, let that fear that you’re feeling be that sign for you that God has something greater in store for you. Instead of being afraid, let it fuel you to anger, let it motivate you to discover all that God has placed on the inside of you. Let all that you’ve been through stir you up to hold on to God even more. The enemy needs to regret ever threatening you or ever coming your way. Do not be afraid.

Say This Prayer

God, I come to you and I yield and surrender myself to do that which you have prepared me to do. I know that all I’m going through right now is because the enemy’s terrified of what I might become. So I surrender myself to you that you would bring your will to pass in my life, wholly, totally, and completely, and that you will be glorified in the seasons and the moments that have to do with my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Shalom