It is amazing how many people who are getting on in years without getting married begin
to fear that perhaps, they have been cursed by someone. Or individuals who have been married
but are not having children. And we can throw in there, as well, people who have difficulties
getting a job or being promoted and so on. They seem to fear that perhaps they have been
cursed.
People in the western world hear about curses, and for them, this is something they only
see in movies. When witches and bad people curse those who are good and try to destroy
them. In the end, it is merely a movie and consequently the bad people get defeated.
However, for those of us who are Africans, curses seem to be very, very real. It's the
explanation that witch doctors and "prophets" give when you visit them with a malady that
is not going away - despite having been attended to by the best of doctors. They will often
tell you, that there is some relative, somewhere within the wider context, who is a culprit.
He has put a curse on you. And often uncles are the alleged culprits in our world. They
will tell you that your mother's brother doesn’t love the progress that you may be making in
your life. And that's the reason why he has cast a spell or a curse on you.
Are you an individual that is thus fearful? That this might have perhaps happened to you?
Well then, let’s take a quick look at this subject to see what the Bible really teaches
about this.
It's good to begin with definitions. What's a curse? Well, a curse is simply the opposite
of a blessing. Thus, the Bible says in Luke chapter 6:28, "bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you." In other words, with prayer you are wishing the best for other
people. With a curse, you are wishing the worst for them.
The first time we come across these two terms is when God Himself used them to our first
parents, Adam and Eve. We read in Genesis 1:27-28 these words. "So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And
God blessed them."
What was that blessing? Well, we are told in Genesis 1:28 these words, "Be fruitful,
and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the
sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the
ground." The blessing, was definitely a positive statement.
As for the curse, we read that God said to Adam in Genesis 3:17 these words, "Because
you have listened to the voice of your wife and eaten of the tree which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain, you shall
eat of it all the days of your life.” Ultimately, what we're learning is this. That for a blessing
or for a curse to be effective, God must allow it to be so. He is the ultimate governor of
all history. And for your comfort, God is a moral being. He will not allow the innocent
to suffer from individuals who wish them ill, purely because of their own jealousy. Of course
not. Always remember that.
Indeed, in Proverbs 261-2, we read these words. "Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so
honour is not fitting for a fool. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
a curse that it causeless…” does not stick on them. “It does not alight.” it does
not settle on them. In other words, blessings for fools, and cursing for the innocent do
not stick. That's an important lesson for us to learn.
You should only worry about a curse being on you, if you are in bad books with God.
There is no curse that is so powerful that it can defy the sovereign and living God and
His omnipotent power. Not even one. He is the one who ultimately blesses, that is, He
is the one who rewards. And He is also the one who ultimately curses. In other words,
the one who ultimately punishes. Again, remember that reality.
In Galatians 3:13, we have good news for those individuals who are Christians. Listen to
what this passage says. It says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a
curse for us." In other words, Christians don't have to worry about any curses. Because
the ultimate curse has been born by Jesus Christ on their behalf on the Cross. He is
the one who has satisfied God completely through His personal sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
So, no human curse will settle on anybody who is a Christian. Not even one.
If you as an individual are not cursed, then the question must still be on your mind: Why
are you sickly? Why are you failing to get married? Or even have a child? Or, another
question might be why are you failing to get a job? Or to make your business thrive. Well,
I may not have all the answers to that question. But one thing I am very doubtful about is
that your uncle has anything to do with it. Trust me.
So, all I would plead with you is this, ensure that you are reconciled to God through the
death of His son the Lord Jesus Christ. And then, whatever this thing might be that seems
to be a weight on your shoulders, keep praying to God about it. And then thirdly, seek your
pastor's counsel. Through proper biblical counselling, you might just find an answer
for that question. May God bless you.