More Biblical Examples of Curses

Before the Israelites entered the promised land, the Amalekites attacked them. Because of this: Exodus 17:16 . . .The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation. Because the high priest Eli allowed his sons to sin, we read:

1 Samuel 2:30,32-33,36 “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and your father’s house would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! . . . in your family line there will never be an old man.

Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. . . . Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”

Naaman offered Elisha a gift for his healing from leprosy. Elisha refused, but his servant, Gehazi, took a gift on the sly. Elisha supernaturally knew what his servant had done and proclaimed: 2 Kings 5:27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.

Yet another curse:

Judges 9:57 God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Another example of sins affecting one’s descendants:

Malachi 2:3 Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; . . .

We all know the story of Balaam in which God went to the extreme of speaking through a donkey to ensure that Balaam did not curse the Israelites. Scripture makes much of this incident, recalling it over and over down through the centuries (Scriptures). If curses have no power or they are automatically negated when people are in a right relationship with God, why celebrate God preventing a curse from being uttered? Are these Scriptures superstitious nonsense? Perish the thought!

Why did God act as if curses on God’s people have power? Why didn’t he demonstrate that curses placed on those whom he has blessed are powerless by letting the curse be pronounced and it have no effect on the Israelites?