Transforming negativity

“I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse… (Genesis 12:3).

The Hebrew terms here break symmetry in an interesting way. The root for ‘bless’ (BRCH) is used twice in the verse. But there are two different Hebrew roots for cursing (KLL and ARR). God says: Those who curse (KLL) you – I will curse (ARR). The actual word used the second time (from the root) is “AhOhr” – which can be read as “I will show the light”!

In the previous verse God told Avram that He will make his name great and that he would be a blessing. Verse 3 ends by saying, “and through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed”.

This is the glorious destiny of the people of Israel. To be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). To be God’s witnesses (Isaiah 43:10) and a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). And that one day, all nations will walk by that light (Isaiah 60:3).