Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Now God goes into the Blessing that the Israelites would enjoy if they would only obey His commands and statutes. The reward for being set free from the bondage of idolatry and broken ideals. It would chase them down and overtake them if they would listen and obey. So much of our suffering and anxiety is caused by the sin in our lives (Psalm 25:18). The Law was meant to show us how far short we come from pleasing God and therefore cry out to Him for mercy. Jesus harkened diligently and observed the whole of the Law. Therefore, He got the Blessing. In and through Messiah Jesus, we too can enjoy the Blessing – given by mercy under Grace. So OUR part is to stay connected to Him (John 15:5), following in fullness what were shadows in the Old Covenant.

What was in the Blessing? Blessed no matter where they lived. Them, their children, their property, and their livestock would be blessed. Their wallets and their savings. They would be blessed coming and going. They would have blessed storehouses or warehouses. They would be established as God’s holy people. The world around them would be able to see the stark difference. They would have plenty of possessions, plenty of children, plenty of livestock, plenty of food, and a good land round about them. God would open HIS storehouses and rain blessing upon them. They would be so prosperous that they could lend money to NATIONS, but not need to borrow. They would be the first among the nations, not trailing behind. In order to enjoy this, they needed to stick to the words of the Law and DO it joyfully.

What would happen if they did NOT choose to obey, but instead chose to go it on their own? To behave however they wanted and worship whatever they wanted and kept God in the backseat (if anywhere at all)? Short answer: nothing good. Long answer: the rest of Chapter 28.

Basically, the OPPOSITE of all the Blessing and that covers a LOT of stuff. Wherever they went? Cursed. They would be confused in all they did. They would die young. They would have to deal with sickness and disease. Their homes would have mildew. They would have to fight other nations. There wouldn’t be good rain. The ground would dry up and harden. Their enemies would triumph over them. The plagues of Egypt would break out among them in their idolatry. They would get senile, anxious, and depressed. They would become blind – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Their well-laid plans would go awry. Other people would take their land, take their betrothed, and take their homes. Their lands wouldn’t produce much. They would lose their livestock and their children. They would have to borrow and be unable to lend out. Them, their king, and their nation, would be brought low and destroyed, no matter how much they worked to prevent it. God is pleading with them to change this from a prophetic promise to a prophetic warning. They had the choice. They could do it. And He was eager that they would. That they would hold to their Covenant with Yahweh and follow what would bring them so much freedom and blessing.

“These are the words of the covenant that Yahweh commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab besides the covenant that he made with them at Horeb.” (Deuteronomy 29:1)

The Covenant that God was asking them to enter was not new. He gave it to them in Exodus 19-20. This was a RENEWAL of the Covenant to obey so that they would stay under His Blessing, instead of walking away from it.

Moses reiterated to them all that had happened to them and their fathers who had died in the wilderness (Numbers 14:34-35). Their rescue from Egypt by mighty signs and wonders. The trials they had gone through and witnessed. Moses had led them for forty years in the desert and they hadn’t fared badly. They were healthy, well-fed, lacking nothing, and had had nothing wear out. Kings had attacked them, and God had prevailed. Moses asked them again to agree to and follow through with this Covenant.

He stated the fact that they ALL stood there. Officials, leaders, priests, men, women, and children. They faced a choice. Enter Covenant and enter the land where they would be made into God’s own people, or to walk away. Moses stressed they weren’t making it with HIM, but with GOD who was with them. it was clear what the choice was and what the consequences were. They understood them and they were written down. God would NOT spare them if they disobeyed. In fact, Moses warned them that the nations of the world would look at the destruction in the land and say ‘what did they do to anger God so much?’ (again, in the New Covenant, Jesus TOOK our punishment so no one EVER has to fear God’s judgment because it does not fall on us. God doesn’t have to judge us like this ever again.).

Moses told them this truth that is STILL true: There are things of God that are unknown. Things we don’t see or understand. But what we DO know is so good, it is the inheritance for us and our children that helps us walk under His wings and enjoy His Blessing. It is just as true now in Jesus (maybe moreso) as it was then.

Summary

Key Players: God, Moses

Key Themes: Blessing, Disobedience (the cause of the curses), Covenant

Key Verse(s): Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 29:1, 29