Deuteronomy 23:5

God refused to let Balaam curse Israel and instead turned the curse into blessing because He loved them. God's covenant love overrules every hostile intent.

Cross-references · 17

• Deut 7:7–8Yahweh didn’t set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples:
• Rom 8:31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Num 24:9He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
• Eph 2:4–5But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
• 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
• Jer 31:3Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.
• Mic 6:5My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.”
• Num 23:5–12Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
• Rom 11:28Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
• Deut 33:3Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words.
• Ezek 16:8“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord Yahweh, “and you became mine.
• Ps 73:1A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
• Prov 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
• Num 23:16–26Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.”
• Num 22:35Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
• Rom 9:13Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
• Mal 1:2“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says Yahweh, “Yet I loved Jacob;

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