07/12/2025
COMPARISON OF TWO LIVES: A DIMENSION OF CURSE AND BLESSING
Moses and Jacob were both great figures in the Old Testament, and their lives show us two different ways of using the power of words. Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, spoke over his children before his death. His words were not only blessings but also curses. He remembered the wrongs that some of his sons had done long ago and allowed those past actions to shape what he declared about their future. For example, in Genesis 49, Jacob spoke against Reuben because of his sin, saying that he would not excel. He also spoke hard words against Simeon and Levi because of their violence. Jacob’s words carried weight, and they became part of the destiny of his children. His choice shows how holding on to past offenses can lead to words that wound rather than heal.
Moses, on the other hand, lived through constant rebellion and complaints from the children of Israel. They murmured against him, they disobeyed, and they even wished to return to Egypt instead of following God’s plan. Yet when the time came for Moses to speak over the tribes, he chose a different path. In Deuteronomy 33, Moses blessed all the tribes of Israel. He did not single out anyone for a curse. Even Reuben, who had been cursed by Jacob, received a reversal through Moses’ words when he said, “Let Reuben live, and not die, and let not his men be few” (Deuteronomy 33:6). Moses showed forgiveness and mercy. He chose to speak life instead of death, blessing instead of curse. His words built up the people rather than tearing them down.
The difference between Jacob and Moses is striking. Jacob allowed vengeance and memory of wrongs to guide his words. Moses chose forgiveness and blessing even though the people had wronged him many times. God did not stop either of them. He allowed them to make their choice, showing that the power of blessing and curse is often left in human hands. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Jacob’s tongue produced both death and life. Moses’ tongue produced life alone.
This is not just a story about two men in the past. It is a lesson for us today. Each of us has the power to bless or to curse with our words. We can hold on to the wrongs of others and let bitterness shape what we say, or we can rise above offenses and choose forgiveness. Like Jacob, we can speak words that limit and wound. Like Moses, we can speak words that heal and give hope. The choice is ours. Jesus also taught this principle when he said, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28). He showed that the way of blessing is the way of love and forgiveness.
The lives of Jacob and Moses help us to see that leadership is not only about guiding people but also about the words we speak over them. Words can shape destinies. Words can either chain people to their past or release them into a future of hope. Jacob’s words were heavy with memories of sin. Moses’ words were filled with mercy and vision. Both men were chosen by God, yet their choices in this matter were different. That shows us that God gives us freedom to decide whether we will represent forgiveness or vengeance, blessing or curse.
In your own life, you will face moments when you must decide how to respond to those who have wronged you. You can choose to remember their faults and speak against them, or you can choose to forgive and bless. The story of Moses and Jacob teaches that blessing brings life, while cursing brings limitation. It is not only about them, it is about us. The question is not what they chose, but what you will choose. Will your words be a source of life, or will they be a source of death. Will you represent forgiveness, or will you represent vengeance. The choice is yours, and God allows you to make it.
Your Brother
ISHOLA Sunday Ayodele
