Understanding Curses

The day of the LORD is near, the day when destruction comes from the Almighty. How terrible that day will be! [Joel 1.15]

It seems prudent to focus on the inherent truth about God found in Joel 1.15. While it might be assumed that the day of the LORD could be a good thing, here in this verse, it is not! In fact, day of the LORD Joel is describing is a terrible thing bringing destruction.

Yes, God brings destruction.

However, as has been discussed in this blog many times recently, curses do not lie! Curses do not come for no reason. Curses are not random misfortune to bear. 

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. [Proverbs 26.2]

Curses do one thing and one thing only: indicate the presence of sin. God is obliged to punish sin. His holiness demands it. Curses reveal sin. 

While we are on this subject, we should consider that all through the Bible, it is never spoken by God (or anyone else for that matter) that man's sin was out of man's control. Adam and Eve had a choice just as every human following had, and has, a choice whether or not they would obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. Every stated judgment doled out by God specifically punished some particular sin (usually involving some form of idolatry). Never was repentance not demanded. And, never in the people's response of genuine repentance did God not relent to at least some degree, and in many cases, entirely. 

Okay, I know, I know... John 9...

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” [John 9.1-5]

Remember above where I said "it is never spoken by God (or anyone else for that matter) that man's sin was out of man's control"? Pay attention here and learn something! While neither the man nor his parents had sinned, his curse was not out of man's control! Jesus took control and healed the man assuring his disciples they were called to do likewise as a matter of being sent by God! And, for the record, as long as there are believers in Jesus in the world, Jesus is in the world! Yes, Satan is roaming around doing deceptive and confusing things, but God's Word has provided all the information we need to combat curses authoritatively encouraging repentance and using forgiveness (Christ's and therefore our own) to demonstrate the time of God's favor - grace upon the earth.

The Old Testament is nothing if it is not a record of God's people enjoying the benefits, or suffering the consequences, of their obedience or disobedience respectively.

It seems only in modern times have God's people adopted the idea that they live in a randomly cursed world with no recourse except to endure the best they can. And, with the increasing development and availability of debt, insurance, medicine and technology, man unsurprisingly, views poverty, tragedy, sickness and hardship (all curses) collectively as conditions not soliciting repentance, but simply misfortunes to be treated. Never a moment's thought is given by those experiencing or those beholding a curse what that curse's reason is (a revelatory opportunity to be healed and forgiven, or a missional opportunity to heal and forgive as Jesus revealed in John 9). All the while those suffering curses endlessly toil under the burden of paying dearly for idols that give them relief. And, in an incredible show of religious piety, they "thank God..." (whether sincerely or insincerely) for debt, insurance, medicine and technology. That is just as ludicrous as thinking an enemy would give us weaponry to resist his own attack! God, Who controls everything, sends curses to draw us to repentance, and yet, we thank Him for debt, insurance, medicine and technology that all remediate the very curses He sent to the end of repentance. And worse, as John 9 teaches, we get all hung up on who did what instead of Who did what! Instead of participating in Jesus Christ as we are commanded, bringing God's redemption through forgiveness, we waste precious time and energy pointing out sin and sinners (as if we are not ALL sinners!).

The safest place a person can be and remain is in repentant faith in Jesus Christ. We are all sinners by human birth but redeemed by faith in Jesus unto righteousness. In that redemption, it is our place then to reconcile men unto God as ambassadors sent with the exact same marching orders of healing and forgiveness as our Lord Jesus Christ (yes, even to our own cross). Our reconciliation of men involves encountering them with the same authority and power of Jesus Christ (the Spirit upon us), forgiving them, healing them, and likewise encouraging repentance and faith.

If, however, we fail to understand what curses mean when destruction comes from the Almighty (as Joel 1.15 says), we are stuck in the mediocrity of powerless religion without hope in this world and consequently without hope in the next. To be confused about the intent of curses is to be confused about why Jesus went to the Cross. We need to get it right then in our understanding of curses!

Father, may Your Word enlighten us! May our preconceived and incorrect notions about curses be revealed and corrected by Your Word! May we understand that curses not only reveal sin in us, but sin in others for which we are ambassadors of forgiveness (reconcilers of men unto God, sent to heal and forgive as Jesus healed and forgave). In this world of confusion and chaos and unprecedented idolatry, may Your Light - the Light of Jesus Christ - shine brightly and effectively through us as we dare to take the confusion out of curses understanding they do not lie but show us where repentance, forgiveness and healing are needed! May we say, like Christ Who sent us:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]