Prior to Deuteronomy 28, Moses detailed many of God’s laws to Israel. He made the people aware that they would be blessed by God if they would follow them; and that He would curse their properties, efforts, and lives if they did not honor His commandments.
Although recited more than 1,450 years before the birth of Christ, God’s warnings should still be heeded today. God does not change. Although our salvation is not related to good works, we should know that what pleased Him then, still pleases Him. What brought His wrath then will bring it upon people today. No one gets away with iniquity, and disobedience is a sin.
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:” Deut. 28:1
In Deut. 28:1, Moses told his people that if they would follow all of God’s commandments, He would bless them in 18 different ways (Duet. 28:1-13). Some of those areas in which God would bless them included: making them superior over other nations, their cities and other lands would be blessed by the Creator, and what grew would prosper. They would be successful in battle. They would be a holy people. Enemies would fear their godly reputation. God would bless the earth for their needs. They would be lenders, not borrowers, and they would be leaders and not followers. The ways God would bless them covered most facets of their lives. His promises would give them a wonderful life, but to obtain it they had to be obedient to God’s commandments.
We can also have God’s hand of blessings on our lives if we will follow God’s commandments. The only difference between now and then is that to be His child, we must first be saved. Once that occurs, we should then obey all that He shows us in His preserved Word, the Bible, to receive His blessings.
“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:” Deut. 28:15
If the saved obey, they will be blessed; but there are tremendous consequences if they do not obey what God expects of them. There are approximately 101 curses put on those that chose not to obey them.
The price of rebelling against God is extremely high. Some of the signs of God’s wrath against those that chose to rebel against Him include:
- what they could have been blessed with will be the same areas they will have God’s hand of wrath upon them (vss. 16-19),
- His rebuke,
- destruction of what was built or achieved,
- diseases,
- problems with weather and the Earth,
- defeats in battles,
- problems with enemies,
- mental problems,
- no prosperity,
- marital failures,
- loss of property,
- family failures,
- immigration problems,
- false religions misleading them,
- loss of respect from other nations,
- pestilences,
- crop failures,
- freedoms lost,
- men and woman weakening and not living up to their responsibilities,
- disappearance of natural affection and love,
- loss of peace,
- a scattered nation,
- and overcome by fears.
There are 89 cursings mentioned in Deut. 28:16-68, however, 12 more curses were mentioned in Deut. 27:15-26. Some of those curses include: idolatry, hatred of parents, dishonesty, sexual sins, and murders.
Many say that if we do not stop sinning, God’s hand of wrath will be upon us. Since much of the world is not obeying the Word of God, His wrath is on us now! Israel did not get by with their sin, neither will anyone! An informed person can see many of God’s curses are occurring today.
However, as wicked as the world has become and as much as it has angered God, we can be different individually. We can choose to obey and serve the Lord today, and please Him rather than anger Him. There are great blessings in serving and obeying the Lord. A content and God-blessed life is far better than a life without His blessings.
The full Bible study can be read at: http://openthoumineeyes.com/views18/Obeying-God.pdf
(These truths from God’s Word need to be preached loud and clear!)
“Almighty God has posted His ‘No Trespassing’ signs everywhere, but in spite of His warnings men deliberately go their own way!” — Oliver Green
It is very clear in your article that you are not saying anything other than we are saved by faith and if anyone follows your lessons for even a brief period of time they will clearly know your doctrinal position on salvation. But your warning on the consequences of disobedience is every bit as doctrinally correct. God wants to bless us but cannot and will not bless disobedience and sin. His word pleads with us to obey so he can bless as the loving Father that he is. Jesus bluntly stated that if we love him we will obey him. The NT bluntly states we should not be deceived but rather understand that whatever we sew that we shall also reap.
Those who are genuinely saved by the precious blood of Jesus should always desire to please him. Because of grace, should we continue in sin? The book of Romans says clearly “God forbid”. Yes we are still in the flesh and yes we still sin but our hearts should be tender about it and quickly cry out for forgiveness and cleansing in which God is ready and willing to give. Thank you for your clear lesson which warns us while teaching how to live and walk in a manner that pleases God and live under his blessing and goodness and mercy.
Sir, thank you for your obedience in doing what seems to be a God calling.
These messages have greatly help me.
It’s good to know God is still at work in the lives of His people.
Thanks
This is why Jesus Christ died, because no one could do the commandments…the law was a schoolmaster to being us to Christ…so we would be justified by faith.. it works
Have you read Galatians 3:24?? Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
It’s not about obedience to commandments but keeping the faith and actually being born again, meaning the Holy Ghost dwells inside and convicts us. The goodness of Hod leadeth us to repentance…Romans 2:4
Of course, we are not saved by the law. This article was about the people of Israel and the importance of the law to them. Perhaps I should have clarified but my intention was to point folks to obedience to God’s commandments. Getting saved is part of that commandment. Thank you for clarifying any doubt a reader may have because of my not including the very important New Testament commandment.
These devotions are true. Easy , to read and understand. I am thankful to God. May be abundantly blessed you. Thank you