The blessing.
A blessing can come as a gesture of good will, a material gift, a healing or as an internal high feeling. The word “bless” is also used to translate the Hebrew word barak, which means “to praise, congratulate or salute.” This word takes the meaning of blood consecration, praise, and good fortune as in God’s promise to bless Abraham (Ge12:3). In the Hispanic culture our parents and grandparents, before we left their presence gave us the gestured blessing. We as believers and children of God in Christ, we like to give our Godspeed to our children before they go to school or work. At church or when we meet other people of faith, we like to give the “God bless you” blessing. Because everyone loves a blessing, and since we have the power to bless someone we should. In fact, followers of Christ have that power to bless others. Jesus said that we need to bless those who curse us (Lk6:28). Blessings have a way of rebounding back to the blesser. Salomon said that if you water you will be watered also (prv11:25). There is this thing that is called pay it forward, and that entails with you receiving a blessing and blessing someone else. We are called to bless others (1Pt3:9). The blessing of the Lord cannot be revoked unless we cause it to be, it enriches us to wealth (Pro10:22).
Numbers 22:10-12
10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
The children of Israel went through a period of time after being released from Egypt of prosperity and blessings. The grew in numbers and strength, that all the nations feared them. The Moabites noticed them and their might and decided to do something about it. Now Balaam was an old prophet who steered away from God, not completely and began to follow divination. But he had the reputation of casting blessings and curses, and whom he either blessed or cursed became such. So, one day Balak the king of Moab summons him to go and curse God’s people. God’s people are a blessed people, and no one can curse them because the blessed one is with them. And that is what Balaam told the king, that no one can curse what God has blessed (Nm22:18). God only allowed Balaam to speak blessings on behalf of God’s people. Balak pressured Balaam three times to curse what God had blessed but he could not. No evil or plaque can come to those who fear God says the Psalmist (91:10).
On the first occasion Balaam decided to go with the men who were sent to curse God’s people, so he got on his mule and went. But the mule when she saw the angel blocking the way, decide to safe Balaam and steer off the direction. Balaam beat the mule until God opened her mouth and she told him that from the very first time that received her she blessed him, and that she was only trying to save his live. Balaam had taken for granted this blessing of the mule, but now God opened his eyes to his blessing. Balaam did not have a repented heart even though his eyes were opened to seeing the angel and went to Balak to try to please him.
Genesis 12:3
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Luke 6:28
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Proverbs 11:25
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
1 Peter 3:9
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it
Numbers 22:18
18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
Psalms 91:10
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.