Living in God's blessing

Imagine you are a parent and you have children. What would you want to happen to your children? Every good parent wants their children to thrive and discover Jesus. In addition, we would like our children to be healthy, do well in school, and make friends. When they get older, we hope they have a reputable and excellent job, are blessed with a partner and children, and can afford a lovely house. Bottom line: we hope our children will be blessed. It would be unhealthy for a parent to expect that their children are sick every day, experience a terrible life, or watch them remain lonely. God is a good God and wants to give us good gifts. If an "ordinary" good parent already wants his children to be happy and joyful, how much more does God want to provide us with good things?

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. (Matthew 7:7-11)

In this chapter, we examine blessings and curses. God wants to bless us and doesn't want to curse us. Yet, it is often thought that God brings the curse on His children. For example, it is said, "God blesses you with this sickness," "Know that you live in poverty if you work for God's Kingdom," or "If you begin with God, you must know that misery begins." On the contrary, God wants to bless us with good gifts.

The Blessing and the Curse

The book of Galatians states that God has freed us from the curse and brought us under the blessing.

Christ has 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, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)

In God's Kingdom, we experience God's blessing. We have been freed from the curse contained in the law and placed under the blessing of Abraham. Before we discuss this, in this section, we look at what the blessing and the curse entail.

The curse comes from the Greek word "kataras" which means "doom," "curse," or "trouble." The phrase implies a supplication or wish at someone's expense. If we return to the beginning of the Bible, we see that the curse came because Adam and Eve disobeyed God. As a result, the woman must painfully bear children, and the earth is cursed, leaving the man to toil to get food (Genesis 3). The curse influences a thing to be accomplished with effort. Here, you can consider many different things; this doesn't just apply to earning bread and money. When we read the Bible, we read about Moses and the people of Israel. The people were allowed to choose between the blessing of God or the curse. If they obey God, they receive a blessing; if they disobey God, they receive a curse.

Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law. And all the people shall say: Amen! (Deuteronomy 27:26)

With what, then, is man cursed? The greatest curse is that man can no longer live with God and, as a result, lives forever separated from God. Thanks to Jesus's work, every Christian born again is redeemed from this great curse. Yet, at the same time, the curse also involves other parts of our lives. It involves not only spiritual adversity but also material adversity. This overview can be found in Deuteronomy 28, beginning in verse 15. We list several curses after we have dealt with the blessing.

In contrast to the curse, we have God's blessing. God wants to bless us, and the first thing God did with man was to bless him.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them: Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth! (Genesis 1:27-28)

Before man could do anything or provide anything for God, God had already blessed him. There is nothing man can do or perform that makes God obligated to bless him. It is God's free will to bless man, and God wants to bless all who are obedient to Him. Whether you are a man or woman, young or old, or whatever country you come from, God wants to bless you. We have a good God!

God's blessing not only applies to spiritual things but also to material things. God wants to bless us physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and financially. According to the dictionary, blessing means "to favor" or "to give abundantly." God wants to provide us with abundance and give us (spiritual) things according to His wealth.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. (Ephesians 1:3-4)

According to the law, let us see what is subject to blessing and curse. This overview comes from Deuteronomy 28 but is incomplete. For a complete overview, I recommend reading Deuteronomy 28.

Let us obey God and thereby enjoy the fruits of God's blessing.

Free from the curse

In the previous paragraph, we saw a list of curses. I don't think anyone wishes to suffer curses but rather to enjoy life with God's blessing. Yet, the curse primarily belongs to everyone. From Jew to Gentile, from the less educated to the more educated, everyone falls under the curse of the Law of Moses.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written: cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. (Galatians 3:10)

All of us fall under the curse of the law. No one has succeeded in complying with the law, and everyone has made mistakes. As a result, the curse applies to everyone. It doesn't necessarily have to be that someone suffers all the curses of the law. For example, it can also be that someone suffers one curse in his life. A rich man or woman is financially blessed but may face divorce, illness, or lose the battle against a terrible sin. The worst curse is losing eternal life with God. Even if someone spends one hundred and twenty years living happily and blessed on earth, if that person doesn't believe in Jesus, everything has lost its value. Unfortunately, the curse applies to everyone because no one is righteous. Yet there is a great blessing in God's Kingdom, for the inhabitants of this Kingdom are freed from the curse and brought under the blessing.

Christ has 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 (…). (Galatians 3:13)

Jesus accomplished this by becoming a curse for us. The Old Testament mentions that anyone who hangs on wood (the cross) is cursed (Deuteronomy 21:23). Jesus became a curse for us when He was nailed to the cross. In addition, the Lord Jesus had the curse of the earth on His head because of the crown of thorns He wore (Genesis 3:18). Consequently, the curse we deserved was borne by One who didn't deserve it. Jesus was turned into sin and a curse on the cross of Calvary. The One who never sinned became sin, and all the world's sins fell on Him. Because Jesus bore the penalty and curse of sin, we are no longer punished for sin but are made righteous in Him.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Therefore, the curse has no claim over our lives anymore, for we have received God's righteousness. Jesus carried the sin and the curse, so we no longer have to live under the power of sin or the power of the curse. The curse has been broken, along with all the negative consequences enshrined in Deuteronomy 28.

We have been freed from the curse and ransomed from the law that contains the curse.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

We no longer fall under the authority of the law with all the curses of sins. We are now children of God and don't commit sin. Not because we keep things written on stone but because God has renewed us and we have received the Holy Spirit, who leads us to sanctity. The book of Galatians says that we shouldn't enslave ourselves by keeping the law, but we should live in freedom of the Holy Spirit and reign in our lives. The power of the law has lost its power, and we have been adopted as children of God, and thanks to God's grace, we may live a holy life.

Brought Under the Blessing

We have been redeemed, ransomed, freed from the curse, and brought together with Jesus under God's blessing.

Christ has 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, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)

Through Jesus' work, Abraham's blessing extends to Christians. When we read the story of Abraham, we observe how God gave Abraham many blessings.

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. (Genesis 12:2-3)

In studying the life of Abraham, we notice that God blessed him to an extraordinary degree. He had many possessions, livestock, excellent health, and children. Abraham died at an advanced age under the blessing of God, who had blessed him in everything.

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Genesis 24:1)

After many years, the Lord Jesus was born from the offspring of Abraham. The Lord Jesus had complete entitlement to the promise God made to Abraham because He was Abraham's offspring and kept to the law. Jesus had the right to receive the full blessing. But Jesus decided to bear the curse on the cross, allowing us to experience Abraham's blessing in Him. We have been redeemed from the curse and may live in blessing. A great transformation took place during the crucifixion. Jesus had the blessing but accepted the curse for a while. We were under the curse, but through being born again, we may receive the blessing forever. The greatest blessing is that we get to spend eternity with God and receive the Holy Spirit as pledge, but at the same time, we also claim the blessings in the book of Deuteronomy. According to Galatians 3:14, we lay claim to the blessing of Abraham. In Genesis 24, we read that Abraham was blessed in all things, so may we also be and become blessed. We receive this blessing by faith. It is essential to always keep sight of the cross because, on the cross, the finished work of Christ was accomplished. This applies to forgiving sin, breaking the curse, and receiving the blessing. This applies not to a few believers but to every believer.

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)

This isn't limited to just a few spiritual areas of our lives but to all areas of our lives.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Our faith incorporates us into the same covenant promises as Abraham. Let us look at several verses that reemphasize God’s desire to bless us.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. (Deuteronomy 29:9, NAS)

We read about God's blessing to the Israelites in the Old Testament. However, After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He became a Mediator of a better covenant. The new covenant of Jesus surpasses the Old Testament covenant. If the people in the old covenant were already blessed, surely this applies to the people of the new covenant.

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

In this new covenant, the promises are better. We discuss these promises in this section of the book, with all the great blessings of God. The greatest blessing of God is written in the same chapter of Hebrews. We now belong to God's people (Kingdom), and He wrote His laws in our hearts and minds because we received the Holy Spirit. God even gave His son to us, so why shouldn't God give us everything else we need?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

Free from the Curse and Living in the Blessing

We no longer live under the curse but in blessings. But how can we walk in these blessings?

First, we need to obey God and listen to His commandments. This was true for the Israelites in the Old Testament, when they could decide for themselves whether to walk under the curse or in the blessing. If they obeyed God, they lived in the blessing; if they disobeyed God, they lived in the curse.

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God (…). (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

The blessings we have listed in this chapter are all in consideration. If Israel listened to God, all these blessings would be for them.

But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. (...). (Deuteronomy 28:15)

It is about the curses we have listed in this chapter. If Israel disobeyed and began to worship other gods, the curse would come upon Israel. The Israelites had to make a decision. Were they going for obedience and the blessing or disobedience and the curse? This isn't the only place where God links obedience and prayer. After Moses, who passed on these laws to the Israelites, passed away, Joshua was the people's new leader. When God appointed Joshua, He told him something important:

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:7-8)

Joshua could only act wisely and make his ways prosperous if he followed the book of the law in all matters. If he followed the commandments, he lived in God's blessing; if he failed to follow the commandments, he lived in the curse, and his ways weren't prosperous.

Even in the New Testament, we often read about obedience and its blessings. Let us look at some examples.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

Him (God) has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. (Acts 5:31-32)

But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath. (Romans 2:8)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Secondly, it is essential to remain patient. There may be times when the promises of blessing are delayed, and this causes us to wonder if God wants to bless us. Nevertheless, it is essential to remain patient because when God promises something, He does it. (2 Corinthians 1:20).

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:11-12)

Through faith and patience, we inherit the promises of God. Initially, you can think of the promises of eternal life and eternity with God. It is good to wait patiently (or persistently) for these things. Besides this, it can involve other or specific promises from God. Think, for example, of Abraham. Only later in life did the accomplishment of an offspring manifest itself. Until his hundredth year, nothing was visible in the natural concerning this promise of God, and it was not until the age of a hundred that Abraham received a son. Abraham needed a lot of patience.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying: Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:13-15)

We require patience to see our promises fulfilled. The following Bible text deals primarily with eternal life, but we can also apply it to other promises of God.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)

The Bible is filled with waiting patiently for the promise. Moses was eighty years old when he took leadership of Israel. Joseph was first sold as an enslaved person and entered prison before becoming a great leader in Egypt. Job had to endure suffering and sickness until he was blessed. David had to wait until King Saul died before he could become king. We can study many more stories like this where God made a promise, and patience was needed before the promise materialized in fulfillment.

Third, the blessing isn't just for ourselves. Our job is to share the blessings we receive with the people around us, first to the orphans, widows, the poor, and the Kingdom of God. In the next chapter, we will discuss this in more detail as we examine financial blessings.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

We need to be generous people by all means and bless others with our time, energy, matter, money, love, attention, etc. God has blessed us (made us prosperous), and our job is to bless others.

While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

God has no problem blessing us with material goods. In most cases, people create problems for themselves. The reason is that a servant of God has been taught that he must be poor and needy. This isn't what the Bible says. God wants to bless us, enabling us to bless others. This is also an essential condition. We must have a giving attitude and allow people to share in our blessing. But when we don't have money, energy, time, health, or goods, how can we provide good gifts to others?

We can also bless those we don't like or those who don't love us. You can think of blessing them with words or blessing them with material goods.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (…). (Matthew 5:44)

Summary

In this chapter, we discussed the blessing of God and the curse. Part of God's Kingdom is that we have been redeemed from the curse and put under the blessing of God. If we obey God, God wants to bless us, and we, in turn, will be a blessing to those around us. God's blessing is intended not only for ourselves but also for others. If we disobey God, we fall under the curse, and one or more curses may afflict us. We find an overview of the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28. In the chart below, we read again some of the blessings and curses from this chapter.

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