The Curse Overturned by Blessing in Jesus Christ

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18a).

The dreadful curse of the Holy God had come down upon every son and daughter that would ever be born into the world. Adam had disobeyed God, and now he and all his children had come under the curse. That dreadful word must have rung in Adam’s ears. Cursed! Cursed! You are cursed! God had said to Adam “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” and Adam had eaten. It had appeared to be only a small act, and it was done in only a few moments. Adam had quickly taken a piece of fruit from the tree that God had strictly commanded him to not eat and now he and all his children were under the curse. Who can bear to think of something so dreadful. How terrible to be cursed by God the Creator. Adam must have shrunk away and hid from God in dreadful despair. When God curses a person, no matter who else shall bless, that person is cursed.

Adam had sinned and had come under the curse. But just now God shows to Adam His infinite grace and mercy. God lovingly revealed to Adam and his wife the glad tidings of the coming of Jesus Christ. God promised to Adam that out of the children of Eve the Lord Jesus would one day be born. The Lord Jesus was the promised “seed” of the woman who would be victorious over the power of Satan. The Son of God was going to be born on earth in order to overturn the terrible curse. By His death, the curse that had come upon Adam and all people would be removed forever.

About 2000 years after the time of Adam and Eve, the promise “seed” had not yet been born. God then repeated His same promise to a man named Abraham. God told Abraham that out of his children, the Lord Jesus Christ would be born. Abraham had also come under the curse in Adam and therefore he looked with great expectation and desire for the coming of the Messiah. Only in Jesus Christ could God’s dreadful curse be taken away from him. God’s words of hope and promise must have filled Abraham with great joy and gladness. Listen to what God said to Abraham. “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” The promised “seed” is the Lord Jesus Christ. God told Abraham that in Jesus Christ every nation and people would be blessed. When Abraham heard this promise, by faith he saw the day when Jesus would become the blessing to the whole earth. Then Abraham became very glad.

You and I were also born “under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” But let us listen closely to what God promised to Abraham. Then we may also learn why Abraham rejoiced and was glad. When God said to Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”, God was saying that in Jesus Christ there is blessing for those who are under the curse. To all those who are under the curse, God declares that in the promised Messiah there is the blessing of salvation. Blessing is the very opposite of being cursed. Is this not glad tidings of great joy! Through the sin of Adam, all people were brought under the curse, but through Jesus Christ, all nations of the earth are blessed! There is blessing in Jesus for people who are under the curse!

In order for Jesus to take away the curse and to be the blessing of all nations, He had to bear the curse upon Himself. Christ Jesus took the curse of His people upon Himself when He suffered the wrath of God upon the cross. He was “made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”. Through the death of Jesus, the blessing spoken of to Abraham could come on all the nations of the earth. Yes, these are wonderful words of hope and salvation. For all those who are under the curse there is promised blessing in Jesus Christ. Jesus overturned the curse and brought the blessing of salvation for sinners. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). But if you must confess that you are yet under the curse, then turn your eyes upon the promised Messiah who died that sinners might be redeemed from the curse of the law. In Him you also may be blessed! “And men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed” (Psalm 72:17).

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."
(John 20:31)

Gijs Vanden Bogerd