Nehemiah 13:2 “(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing).” [NIV]
It has to be the most un-parenthesis worthy statement in the Bible. Maybe that’s why other versions use a simple period or dash. But my NIV version puts a parenthetical around the fact that God turned a curse on Israel into a blessing. Seems way too powerful a statement to surround it with punctuation that typically indicates an afterthought!
The passage in Nehemiah refers to the time Moab hired Balaam to put a curse on Israel (Numbers 22). Every time Balaam made an attempt, the Lord intervened and changed his intended curse into a blessing. Four times, Balaam tried to prophesy a curse, and four times God turned his words into a blessing on his people. God’s power to turn curses into blessings and alter the flow of history cannot be overstated.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Calvary. Galatians 3:13-14 says Jesus became the curse for our sins. We were condemned to hell, but because of Jesus’ sacrifice, the curse was broken. Fallen man was given the opportunity to become redeemed man, redeemed woman. No matter how indebted to our sinful lifestyles we’ve become, Jesus paid the price to secure our freedom. The curse was turned into a blessing, no matter how many Balaams try to convince us otherwise.
Don’t be deceived. We who are born of God have received the “seed” of Christ (1 John 3:9). He now lives within us and empowers us to become like him. Sin CANNOT enslave us. Not anymore. Maybe you’ve been the victim of condemning words. You will never change. You can’t possibly overcome that temptation. You’re insignificant, a failure. The empty tomb says differently! Jesus overcame the greatest curse on mankind to make available the greatest blessing— “his incomparably great power” that “ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20). It’s a power accessible to all who believe.
So this Easter, let’s not underestimate God’s power to change our circumstances or our destiny. As you worship the risen Christ, let all those past sins be just an…(afterthought).