Daily Devotional
"Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, I blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand."
Joshua 24:9-10
King Balak had a problem. He watched God’s people advancing, saw the victories God was giving them, and knew he couldn’t defeat them militarily. So he tried a different tactic: spiritual warfare. He hired Balaam, a prophet, to curse Israel. If he couldn’t beat them with swords, maybe he could beat them with curses.
Balaam tried. He really did. He went up on the mountain three different times to curse Israel. But every single time he opened his mouth, blessings came out instead. He couldn’t curse them no matter how hard he tried. And here’s what God says about it: “I would not listen to Balaam. Instead, I blessed you.”
Think about that. God wouldn’t even let the curse be spoken. God’s protection over His people was so complete, so total, that the enemy’s schemes were turned into blessings before they could even take effect.
This is the promise for every child of God. When God has chosen you, when God has called you, when God has set you apart for His purposes, no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). No curse can touch you. No scheme of the enemy can derail God’s plan for your life.
Now, let me be clear: this doesn’t mean you won’t face opposition. It doesn’t mean life will always be easy. Israel faced enemies on every side. But God protected them. God shielded them. God turned curses into blessings.
Maybe you’re facing opposition right now. Maybe it’s at work, where someone seems determined to undermine you. Maybe it’s in your family, where relationships are strained and words are weaponized. Maybe it’s spiritual warfare that you can feel but can’t see. Maybe someone is literally speaking against you, trying to curse your name or your reputation.
Here’s what God says: If I am for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31)? The same God who protected Israel is protecting you. The same God who turned Balaam’s curses into blessings can turn the opposition you face into opportunities for His glory.
Today's Challenge
Where are you facing opposition or spiritual attack right now? How does knowing that God shields His people change your response to that situation? Instead of defending yourself, how might you trust God's protection?
Prayer
Father, thank You that when You have chosen me, no weapon formed against me will prosper. Thank You for turning curses into blessings, for protecting me from attacks I don't even know about, for shielding me with Your presence. When I face opposition, help me to trust Your protection rather than trying to defend myself in my own strength. You are my shield and my defender. In Jesus' name, Amen.