Another key lesson we learn from the whole Balaam episode concerns curses. What are they, exactly? Do they work? Should we fear them?
Much of the world lives in mortal terror of being cursed by a witch doctor, shaman, or black arts practitioner. In many cultures, threats of curses are used to keep people in line, which means doing what you want them to do.
But Balaam, who was trying his best to curse Israel, laid out some pretty clear guidelines for anyone who would curse anyone or anything.
“How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?” “Numbers 23:8 (ESV)
“For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
‘What has God wrought!’”Numbers 23:23 (ESV)
“Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.” Numbers 24:9 (ESV)
We can infer at least two things. First, there is no curse which can circumvent God’s will and protection. Even if genuine evil powers are involved, they can never harm God’s people regardless of the threat. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 See also 2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 118:6; Romans 8:31 and many others.
Second, a curse must be in some way deserved or appropriate. This principle is behind Solomon’s Proverb 26:2:
“Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
a curse that is causeless does not alight.”
Scripture contains many threats of curses, often from God Himself, but they always are rather like cause/effect relationships or the law of sowing and reaping. See Deuteronomy 28 for the best example of this principle and how it works itself out in the life of Israel.
So to all of the other stressors in life, don’t add the fear of curses. Place yourself in the hands of the Lord, who always is vigilant and who never takes a day off. Even if someone can make something go “bump” in the night, turn over and go back to sleep. It can’t harm you.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 4:8