And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:28 AMPC
Reflecting on the words of Balaam to Balak and his people in Numbers 23:20, “He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that”, it becomes evident that God’s blessing is never intended to be temporary; it is eternal. When God pronounces a blessing, it carries His seal, rendering it unchangeable by man. Balaam, recognizing this, made it clear to King Balak that attempting to curse those whom God has blessed would be futile.
Balaam knew that he could not go against God’s will. Balak had sought Balaam with the hope that he could curse the Israelites for him. His belief, expressed in Numbers 22:5-6, was that, “whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.” Balaam’s response in Numbers 23:8,20 echoed his inability to alter God’s blessing. Essentially, he conveyed, “I am merely a mouthpiece for the divine instructions, and I cannot defy the divine will. Attempting to curse those whom God has blessed would be self-destructive.”
Balaam’s words show that God’s blessing is permanent and irrevocable. No one can reverse or remove it. No one can snatch it away from the one who has it. God’s blessing is not based on human power or merit, but on His sovereign grace and love. Jesus confirmed this truth when He said:
The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.
John 10:27-29 AMPC
Jesus was talking about His followers, in regard to the blessing of eternal life. He said that He gives them eternal life, not that they earn it or deserve it. He also said that they shall never lose it or perish, not that they can lose it or forfeit it. Likewise, He added that no one is able to snatch them out of His hand or the Father’s hand.
Jesus assured His followers that they are secure in His love and care. He said that He knows them, and they know Him. He said that nothing can separate them from His love or the Father’s love. This is the eternal blessing that God gives to His people. It is not a blessing that can be changed. On the contrary, it is a blessing that lasts forever, and that guarantees their salvation and safety. It is a blessing that fills them with joy and peace, and that empowers them to live for His glory.
In conclusion, God’s blessing is eternal. It is not a temporary or conditional favour, but a permanent and irrevocable gift. Meanwhile, it is not a human achievement or entitlement, but a divine grace and love. It is not a vulnerable or uncertain state, but a secure and confident relationship. It is not a worldly or material benefit, but a heavenly and spiritual treasure. Indeed, it is the blessing of eternal life, which God gives to His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. No one can change it, destroy it, or snatch it away. It is the blessing that makes us truly blessed.
This affirmation by Jesus underscores the indestructible and secure nature of God’s blessings. Those blessed by God are impervious to the schemes of any ‘Balak’ and ‘Balaam’ conspiring together. Even the most elaborate efforts to disrupt God’s blessing will only end in failure, leaving behind only shame and scorn.
