Will Blessing Others Make One Blessed?

Will Blessing Others Make One Blessed?

"Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you." (Numbers 24:9)

He is a regular attendee at every meeting where blessings are preached...

After observing him several times, someone asked:

"Which is your local church..?"

He replied,

"I don't really have one. I'm thinking of becoming a member where blessings are spoken about the most..."

A mindset has become prevalent in some spiritual circles that simply listening repeatedly to messages about blessings is enough to receive them, even without living according to the principles of God's Word...

We are all familiar with God's promise to Abraham, whom He chose to bless and make famous:

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." (Genesis 12:3)

This verse served as God's protective covenant for a man who left everything behind and journeyed as a stranger to the land God would show him. Living among people who invoked the names of their gods to pronounce curses and practice sorcery, anyone who cursed Abraham would have that curse return upon themselves.

One might then ask, Wouldn't the blessings they pronounce also come upon themselves?

But Abraham already possessed God's blessing-one that is far greater than anything anyone could ask or imagine. Why would he need blessings from others...?

The New Testament also reminds us about blessing:

"You were called to inherit a blessing; therefore bless others." (1 Peter 3:9)

Here, the emphasis is not merely on protection but on the attitude God's people should have toward others. More than external prosperity, the New Testament emphasizes inward holiness and a God-like character.

Now let us turn to today's verse.

These are the words Balaam spoke as he blessed Israel. From various locations, Balaam could do nothing except bless Israel.

But did Balaam himself become blessed...?

No. During Israel's war against the Midianites, Balaam was killed along with them (Numbers 31:8).

▪️ Who was Balaam?

Balaam was a pagan prophet, or a diviner. To him, Yahweh was only one god among many. Why, then, did God speak to Balaam?

The answer is that through this incident, God intended to teach many lessons to Israel and to the Church.

▪️ Balaam's Character

When the elders of Moab and Midian first came to Balaam, they brought ‘the fee for divination’ (Numbers 22:7). This was the customary payment for such services.

When Balaam initially refused to accompany them, a second group of princes arrived with a more enticing offer: "The king will honour you greatly."

Although Balaam proudly declared, "Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord," his true desire was "the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15).

▪️Why Didn't God Strictly Forbid Him from Going?

1.⁠ ⁠God had already given a clear command at the very beginning:

"You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (Numbers 22:12).

2.⁠ ⁠But when the promise of greater rewards came, Balaam asked God again, and God permitted him to go.

3.⁠ ⁠The angel standing with a drawn sword and the donkey speaking both clearly revealed God's displeasure. The angel who once struck down 185,000 men could easily have killed Balaam, but these extraordinary interventions were meant to teach him important lessons. Yet Balaam continued on his journey.

🔹 Lessons

▪️A person who deliberately goes against God's clearly revealed will cannot expect to enjoy God's blessings.

▪️Balaam stands as a warning to those who, driven by greed, engage in things contrary to God's will.

▪️No matter how powerful the one who curses or practices sorcery, such curses cannot harm God's people, who are set apart and belong to Him.

Dear Beloved,

The God who called us through His promises is faithful. The blessings He graciously gives are the ones that truly benefit us both in this life and in eternity.

May God bless everyone.