June 2022

The Curse of a Prophet

May 22, 2023

According to its textbook definition, a prophet is one who utters divinely inspired revelations. However, as we shall see, a prophet is not merely a person who can predict the future, but rather a man or a woman that teaches God’s law, expresses God’s will, and reprimands God’s people when they deviate from the statutes of the Lord and violate God’s commandments. Simply stated, a prophet is a man of God. The scriptures go on to reveal that in addition to the various spiritual offices held by God’s holy vessels, a prophet even has the power and authority to curse someone. Therefore the focus of this presentation will be centered around the negative qualities and abilities of the servants of God, namely the curse of a prophet.

In God’s law nothing ever happens in this world without either God willing it or allowing it to happen. In the case of the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, we see that a prophet (or more accurately a sorcerer) tried to curse God’s people, but was unable to because Israel was blessed by God, and as we shall see what God blesses no one can curse. The Bible tells us that when the children of Israel pitched in the plains of Moab, Balak the king of the Moabites was afraid of Israel for what they had done to the Amorites and because of the great number of the Israelites that were now encroaching into Moabite territory. Therefore, Balak called for the diviner Balaam son of Beor to curse the children of Israel. However, God did not allow Balaam to curse His people. For as God spoke unto Balaam, “…thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). So, here we see that when one is wrapped up in the favor of God no man, no matter how powerful can separate God’s servants from His holy protection.

Though God sent plagues upon the Egyptians and even punished His own people, the Lord’s initial intention concerning His creation is always that of blessings and not curses. As we see from scripture, before sending a judgment upon His people the God of Israel first sent forth prophets, putting a word in their mouth and instructing His servants to speak unto the congregation that which the Lord had commanded them to preach. For example, the prophet Isaiah saw that the Lord would indeed protect Jerusalem if the people in turn would keep the Covenant that God established with Israel on Mt. Sinai shortly after their Exodus from the bondage of Egypt. For the Lord speaking through Isaiah warned Judah by informing them thus: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it”(Isaiah 1:19-20). So here it is revealed that a curse is preceded by disobedience and rebellion, and not by the wishes of a solely vindictive God.

God is impartial, and according to the writings of St. Paul what we reap is what we sow (Galatians 6:7). If we do good, good will return to us and likewise if we do evil, evil will also come upon us. This teaching is echoed in the book of Deuteronomy, for as the Lord God spoke unto the children of Israel at Sinai saying, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). So here we see that even if someone is called by God, one cannot trust in preserving God’s favor if that person strays from keeping God’s commandments and then later fails to repent for doing so. For according to scripture, if anyone would deny the Lord and then additionally reject the teachings of God, then those individuals will ultimately bring upon themselves the curse of God (John 3:36).

Shockingly, we also find in the Old Testament an instance where the curse of a prophet resulted in the death of young children. For the Bible informs us that when prophet Elisha was on his way to Bethel, “there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them” (2 Kings 2:23-24). As unbelievable as this story sounds, there is another case in the Bible where a prophet kills not one, not fifty, but four-hundred and fifty individuals who were classified as false prophets. For after the prophet Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal, the Bible relates how Elijah rounded up these false prophets, and slew all four-hundred and fifty of them there at the brook Kishon (1 Kings 18:29-40). As frightening as these passages appear, it is revealed how serious it is to mock a prophet: an action which could even bring a death sentence upon the guilty party.

In conclusion, from God’s creation of Adam to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, it is evident that God’s love for mankind is great and unmatched. Yet at the same time we see that the wickedness of mankind does indeed kindle God’s anger. For even though the Lord is slow to wrath, His judgment is sure. God is love, but it is also written that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). And just as God is due all glory and praise, so also do the prophets (the servants of God) deserve honor and respect. But even if the people reject the words of the prophets, the Lord Himself will protect His holy ones. For the great I AM has given us all a warning not to come against a man of God by testifying, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (1 Chronicles 16:22). From this it would seem that even though prophets do at times utter a curse, ultimately it is by the power and will of God that a curse is fulfilled. God wants us all to respect and love each other, for by doing so we prove our love for God by our obedience to His commandments. So from what has been outlined, I do believe that the Almighty would prefer humanity to live in harmony with one another, rather than God being provoked to come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

Moses and Christ: A Comparison

May 22, 2023

When Moses was born, Pharaoh king of Egypt, ordered the massacre of the Israelite newborns after hearing the prophecy of a deliverer to rise up among God’s people to free the Hebrew slaves. When Christ was born Herod king of Judea ordered the slaying of all the children in Bethlehem after hearing the Magi informing him that they came seeking the child who would be king of Israel.

Before Moses was called by God to be the instrument of salvation for the enslaved Hebrews, he was a shepherd. And before Christ preached the Gospel to the house of Israel He was a carpenter.

God hardened the heart of Pharaoh to the degree that even after seeing signs and wonders performed by the finger of God, the ruler of Egypt still did not believe in the God of Israel. Similarly, even though Jesus Christ performed many miracles and saved the souls of so many, the Jewish leaders’ hearts were hardened by not believing in the only begotten Son of God, even though they were witnesses to His miracles.

By Moses God freed the Hebrew slaves and by Christ Jesus set at liberty the spirits which were in prison. Just as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the land of promise, so also the Lord Christ led captivity captive into Paradise.

Ancient Christianity in Ancient Georgia

May 22, 2023

Shortly after the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus instructed His disciples to spread the Gospel unto all the earth. Soon after the ascension of Christ and His enthronement at the right hand of God the Father, the disciples came together and tried to decide where each one of them would go. As a solution they decided to cast lots as to which countries they would go to and share the Good News. At this time the blessed Virgin Mary stepped forward and wanted to cast lots along with her Son’s disciples. In the beginning they didn’t want her to be troubled by this daunting task, but soon reasoned that she being the Lord’s mother had every right to spread the Gospel of her only begotten Son. When she cast her lot, it fell to the country of Iberia, the ancient name of the territory we know today as the country of Georgia.

Although she had every intention of making it to Iberia, the blessed Virgin did not reach the country that fell to her by lot. What did happen, was that she and the Apostle John were traveling by boat to reach the island of Cyprus, where their friend Lazarus (he whom Christ raised from the dead) was living at the time. However, the ship they were sailing in was blown off course and they did not arrive in Cyprus. Instead, the two holy ones came to the banks of a remote peninsula in northeastern Greece, which was crowned by a large mountain that protruded up from the Aegean Sea. As soon as the Virgin Mary set foot on the mountain’s shore, an idol that was perched at the top of the mountain fell over and the demon that lived behind it cried out in a shriek. Upon seeing these things the blessed Virgin made a prayer to her Son, that this place would be her garden for those who are seeking to be saved.

In the centuries that followed, monastic communities were established on the mountain. Subsequently the mountain would be called the Holy Mountain, and more commonly known as Mount Athos. And even though the blessed Virgin Mary did not have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the inhabitants of the country of Iberia, a Georgian monastery was built in the late 10th century close to the site where St. John and the Virgin landed on the mountain centuries before. This monastery is known as Iviron, the Georgian monastery of Mount Athos.

One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon the Zealot, did manage to plant some seeds of Christianity in Georgia, but it would not be until the 4th century that the conversion of Georgia took place. For in 323 AD a young virgin named Nino or Nina, who was also a relative of St. George, traveled to Georgia from Jerusalem in order to evangelize the country. For previously the Mother of God appeared to Nino in a dream and told her, “Depart to the land that I was sent to by lot, and preach the Gospel of my Son, and I will guide and protect you.” But Nino answered, “O’ Queen, how can I accomplish this task? For I am a worthless and ignorant woman.” Then the blessed Virgin Mary stretched out her hand upon a vine branch which grew close to Nino’s bed and cut it off and fashioned it into a cross and gave it to Nino saying, “Let this be your protection. By it, you may overcome all your foes and preach your message. I will be with you and will not abandon you.” After this vision, Nino awoke and found the cross in her hands.

Through the efforts of St. Nino, King Mirian (265-342) and Queen Nana received Christ and accepted baptism and proclaimed Christianity as the state religion in 326 AD. At this time the Byzantines had authority over the region, so St. Constantine the Great (306-337) sent a bishop and many priests in order to baptize the Georgians along with architects to build churches. Shortly after this the first bishop of Georgia was ordained at Antioch, establishing the birth of the Georgian Church under the See of Antioch. In 482, during the reign of the great Georgian king St. Vakhtang Gorgasali, Georgia received its first Catholicos (meaning head of an independent Church) whose new role signaled the independence of the Church. The Georgian Church now had its own hierarchy to manage internal affairs, ordinations, and the installation of bishops.

In pre-Christian times, several centuries before the birth of the Savior, tradition tells us that a group of Jews believed to descend from the royal house of David traveled to Iberia and settled in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. During the time of Christ some of the Jews of Mtskheta were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. The Jews of Georgia were invited to the crucifixion by the high-priest Annas. Annas’ invitation was thus written, “to my ancestor Elioz – He to whom the kings of Persia came to bring gifts has grown up to manhood. He calls Himself the son of God. Come here to be present at His execution, which will fulfill the law of God and Moses.” The Jews of Georgia did go, and brought back with them the Lord’s robe.

In modern times the Georgian Orthodox Church experienced hardships during the Communist regime. Only in the 1970’s did the Church go through a revival under the leadership of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Since his enthronement on December 25, 1977, he has restored many churches and monasteries, as well as theological academies and seminaries. And though Georgia is a small country, this sacred land has produced thousands of saints who’s memory bears witness to a rich history and a holy Orthodox spirituality.

 

References:

Lang, D.M. Lives and Legends of the Georgian Saints. (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1976).

Machitadze, Z. Lives of the Georgian Saints. (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2006).