HOW DOES SATAN TAKE ADVANTAGES OF CURSES?
(Thirty plus years ago God put Don Rogers in my life. He trained and mentored me in spiritual ministry. When he was no longer able to minister, I had the privilege of taking over his “Spiritual Warfare Ministries.” He had written many fine articles about spiritual warfare. I have edited and added to his work for this blog.)
The Bible gives us examples of how Satan takes advantages of curses. Here are two.
- THE DOWNFALL & DESTRUCTION OF ABIMELECH – Judges 9
In Abimelech’s rebellion the slave woman’s son incited the lords of Shechem. He murdered 69 brothers.
His acts of murder – 69 brothers were killed
The curse of Jothan – Judges 9:19-20 – A pronouncement of judgment
“If, I say, you have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords Shechem, and Bethmillo, and devour Abimelech.”
An evil spirit was permitted to work between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem
The resulting hostility led to their deaths
The curse was fulfilled – Judges 9:57
“And God also made all the wickedness of the people of Shechem fall back on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal.
- THE DOWNFALL & DESTRUCTION OF AHAB – 1 Kings 16-22
Ahab took Jezebel as his wife and served Baal (16:13)
Ahab was extremely wicked (16:33)
Israel was judged because of his sins (18:1-18)
Elijah’s prophetic curse – A pronouncement of judgment
“. . . Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.” (21:19)
“. . . Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.” (21:20-21)
“. . . The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.” (21:23)
The prophetic curse was fulfilled
Three years of war between the King of Aram & Israel
Ahab gathered 400 prophets to seek their counsel
The prophets prophesied victory (22:6)
Micaiah the prophet was summoned – he prophesied defeat (22:17) – the king was angry
Micaiah revealed a vision (22:19-22)
He saw God on his throne asking the question, “who will entice Ahab?”
Different responses were given – then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord saying, “I will entice him.” “How?” the Lord asked him. “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
The Lord responded – “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.”
Micaiah’s closing comment
“So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” (22:23)
King Ahab commanded that Micaiah be put into prison
The king went to battle in spite of Micaiah’s warning – He disguised himself, but was mortally wounded by an arrow that pierced him between his armor. The king apparently bled to death in his chariot. When his chariot was washed by the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood.
These two accounts show us that a curse is a means of some type of judgment and often evil spirits are the agents of God in spite of their evil agenda. God often used Israel’s wicked enemies to bring judgment against His people.
© Copyright 1998 Spiritual Warfare Ministries, Inc., © 2013 Christian Training Organization. For more information contact Christian Training Online (SW.ChristianTrainingOnline.org), a ministry of Christian Training Organization (www.ChristianTrainingOrganization.org)