Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD has not defied? God's "defiance" the signal of destruction; God's "curse," fatal. But if protected from these we are safe, for "the curse causeless cannot come." We are safe from - 1. Malicious designs. E.g., Balaam's wish to curse; the plot of the Jews to stone Paul at Iconium (Acts 14:5), and to assassinate him at Jerusalem (Acts 23.). 2. Words of execration. E.g., Shimei (2 Samuel 16); the blasphemies spoken against Christ, and the libels uttered against his people (Matthew 10:24-26). 3. Witchcraft and divination. In reply to all such foolish fears let it suffice to say, "I believe in God" (Isaiah 8:13, 14: 1 Peter 3:13). 4. Assaults and all violence. E.g., the various attempts to seize or kill Jesus Christ when "his hour was not yet come." When the hour for suffering "as a Christian is come," let him glorify God "(1 Peter 4:12-16). Such calamities are not "curses" from God, and God can change all other curses into blessings, as in the case of Balaam (Deuteronomy 23:5). 5. Every kind of persecution (Romans 8:35-39). The devil's curse is a telum imbelle; his defiance an empty threat. The objects of God's care are invincible, if not invulnerable (Isaiah 54:17). - P. Parallel Verses KJV: How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?WEB: How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied? |
    |