Article April 20, 1968 Issue

Man Is Not Cursed

BARBARA JUERGENS FOX

When Balak, king of the Moabites, was terrified of the forces that had come against him, he called on Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam refused, saying: "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? ... Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." Num. 23:8, 20;

Man is the blessed child of God. The first chapter of Genesis tells about the complete spiritual creation of man and the universe. This chapter reveals that God created man in His own image and likeness, that God blessed His creation and saw that it was good. God forever maintains man in this state of perfection. Throughout the account of the true creation there is no mention of evil or of a curse. All is eternally, changelessly good.

Then where does the belief arise that man can be cursed? The infinitude of good and the blessed state of man seem to be reversed in the second and third chapters of Genesis, which depict the creation and corruption of mortal man. In this allegory the serpent persuades Eve to eat some of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After Adam and Eve have done so, their disobedience is uncovered and punishment follows.

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