There is a widespread cultural apprehension regarding the evil eye, which is believed to wreak havoc on families. This fear has been perpetuated by our ancestors, rooted in numerous documented occurrences where families suffered devastation and their properties diminished following the public exposure of their happiness and prosperity. However, if we approach this perspective logically, one might argue that if the evil eye truly exists, then it threatens the well-being of all individuals.
This raises the question of why some individuals seem influenced to the detrimental effects of what is termed the evil eye, while others are not. To alleviate this cultural fear, which appears to have some basis, it is essential to turn our focus toward God, for without His intervention, our lives may lack meaningful direction.
The Victims of Pride
Pride gives birth to envy, and envy drives people to harm the proud. When David’s name was exalted, Saul became envious and sought to kill him. It was not David who conquered his enemies, but God who empowered him. Yet when the people credited these victories solely to David (1 Samuel 18:7), he accepted their praise and unintentionally denied the grace of God behind his success. As a result, David lived as a fugitive , even though God had destined him for the throne. We should understand that it was not Saul’s envy alone, but David’s pride that God used to humble and prepare him for kingship. In contrast, Saul’s pride led to his downfall, because he refused to heed God’s correction.
Pharaoh was filled with pride and unable to recognize the destiny that had been ordained by God. Instead, he perceived himself as equal to God and pursued his own plans rather than adhering to God’s noble purpose. Although God explicitly informed Moses that He had hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 10:1), this can only be fully understood when we consider the verses in which it is stated that Pharaoh himself had hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15, 9:34).
This suggests that when God knows that an individual is not amenable to repentance, He may utilize that person to fulfill His plans. Many people mistakenly include Judas in this category, assuming that God brought him into the world solely to commit evil. Such a notion is erroneous, as God provides every individual with ample opportunities to turn away from wickedness. Ultimately, it is the individual who exercises their free will to choose evil over good, at which point God may harden their hearts to achieve His intended purpose.
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD … – Exodus 14:4 (NIV)
Does God necessitate the existence of the wicked in order to attain glory for His name? While God’s glory is constant, He allows for the destruction of the wicked so that we may discern the distinction between good and evil. Similarly, in our own state of wickedness, God bestowed His only Son upon us to illuminate our true condition and lead us toward repentance.
Overcome Evil With Good
When God instructs us to counteract evil with good, as exemplified in His guidance of Joseph who, through the exercise of goodness, was able to sustain many during the famine (Genesis 50:20), it reflects God’s unchangeable purpose. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul states that for those who love God, all adverse occurrences are transformed by God for a greater good (Romans 8:28).
An evil eye is not the underlying cause of our afflictions; rather, it is our pride that God seeks to address. If our gatherings for housewarming or the marriages of our offspring are primarily intended to glorify God, then there is no necessity for us to seek a means of atonement. However, when pride interjects itself into any occasion, we, under the guise of expressing gratitude to God, invite friends and relatives to display our wealth and influence. In such instances, God intervenes to instill humility within us. To negate His teachings, the adversary has devised a notion such as the “Evil Eye” to shroud our vision with fear and anxiety, hindering our ability to comprehend His teachings through the lens of His love.
Illustration From The Bible
God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” – Numbers 22:9 (NIV)
God safeguards us from associating with individuals of ill repute who may lead us away from fulfilling His will. He presents us with two critical questions: who are the individuals frequently visiting our homes, and what is the purpose of their association with us? Despite God’s admonitions, Balaam succumbed to the allure of his esteemed visitors and yearned for their gifts. We often invite individuals seeking their association, influence, and gifts, which consequently diverts us from God. At times, we include those less fortunate than ourselves to boast of the greater blessings we have received from God. This inevitably places them in a vulnerable position, as they compare their circumstances with ours. Subsequently, their reactions and remarks may wound us, and any difficulties we experience thereafter are attributed to their “Evil Eyes.” However, it is not their envy or malice that affects us; rather, it is our misguided intentions that prompt God’s intervention to realign us with the correct path. On the contrary, God introduced Peter to the individuals dispatched by Cornelius in accordance with His directives (Acts 10:19-20).
In a separate incident, God communicated with King Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah regarding the envoys who visited from the King of Babylon, bearing gifts on the eve of the healing bestowed upon Him by God. However, Hezekiah, in his pride, disregarded God’s grace and chose to exhibit the wealth amassed by his ancestors, prioritizing material riches over God’s reverence. Consequently, God instructed the prophet Isaiah to confront King Hezekiah, making it clear that He was aware of his transgressions.
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?” – Isaiah 39:3 (NIV)
When King Hezekiah recognized his transgressions, the decree of God was interpreted by those unfamiliar with the commandments of God as the “Evil Eyes” of the Babylonians.
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. – Isaiah 39:5-7 (NIV)
Individuals who adhere to pagan beliefs and perceive the evil eye as a source of harm often engage in rituals aimed at negating its distressing effects, subsequently experiencing a sense of relief. This relief arises from the cancellation of their misguided beliefs through these rituals, allowing them to liberate themselves psychologically from the fears they have conjured. Furthermore, the fear instilled by malevolent forces may also diminish, as the devil appears to alleviate their distress, thereby reinforcing the notion of the existence of the evil eye. In contrast, the followers of God find themselves at an impasse; they do not partake in the rituals practiced by pagans, yet they remain entrapped by the deception inherent in such beliefs. Consequently, it is the believers in God who find themselves ensnared in these challenges, grappling to extricate themselves from them.
Therefore, let us exercise caution not to ascribe the teachings of God to the malevolent gazes of those dear and near to us, whom we once welcomed with affection to exhibit our wealth and fame, but who have now become adversaries through no fault of their own. Let us seek counsel from God before forming associations with others, ensuring that our invitation list aligns with His approval. By comprehending the cunning nature of the devil, we may utilize the notion of the “Evil Eye” to liberate ourselves from the shackles that persist due to our ignorance of the truth. Rather than attributing our circumstances to the influence of the “Evil Eye,” let us redirect our focus toward God, discarding our malicious ways, so that God may bestow upon us His peace and blessings in our lives.
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? – Hebrews 12:25(NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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