* Cursed in Eden *
God, after discovering that deception and sin had been brought into the Garden of Eden, personally handed out two curses. The first curse came upon the animal the devil used to deceive Eve.
"Because you have done this you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go upon your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life . . ." (Genesis 3:14).
The creature that tempted Eve was not a snake as is commonly believed. It stood upright and possessed a certain amount of intelligence (Genesis 3:1).
God initially made the earth to be abundantly fertile where crops could be grown easily with little effort. The ground, however, received a curse due to Adam's sin. Part of his punishment for sinning entailed having to exert great effort to grow enough food to survive (Genesis 3:19).
* The First Murderer *
Cain, after he murdered his brother Abel in cold blood (Genesis 4:8), was confronted by God. His unwillingness to take responsibility for the murder, along with his lack of grief or repentance, led to a curse.
"When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you, and you shall be a wanderer and a fugitive upon the earth." (Genesis 4:12).
* A Most Unusual Promise *
Abraham, while living in Haran, is commanded by God to leave his home for one that will be shown him (Genesis 12:1). God's relationship with him is so close that the Lord promises to personally curse those who reject him or want to do him harm!
"And I will make of you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you . . ." (Genesis 12:2 - 3).
* Stealing from God *
God accused ancient Israel of robbing him of the tithes and offerings he commanded be given (Leviticus 27:30 - 33, Numbers 18:20 - 32, etc.).
Their refusal to obey him brought a curse.
"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me. But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation . . ." (Malachi 3:8 - 10).
* Cursed Fig Tree *
Jesus entered Jerusalem with his disciples a few days before his death. Being hungry and noticing a fig tree that possessed an abundance of leaves, he approached it expecting to find fruit. When he doesn't find fruit, he pronounces a curse upon it.
"And seeing a fig tree by the road, He (Jesus) came up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, 'Let there never again be fruit from you forever.' And immediately the fig tree dried up." (Matthew 21;19).
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