I wanted to share some of what I’ve been reading in the Bible lately. My goal for 2019 was to dig deeper into scripture and really study it. I began a chronological study that is taking me through the Bible in the supposed order of events. I’m really loving it!
It amazes me how God provided for the Israelites even though they didn’t always trust Him. They continued to question God and yet He was still by their side, leading them and giving them the strength to go on. In fact, I read just last night:
“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: and your clothes are not waxen old (to waste away, decay, old) upon you, and they shoe is not waxen old upon they foot.”
Deuteronomy 29:5
I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty cool. As you can see, I’m currently reading through Deuteronomy. What I have found beautiful, is that God promises blessings upon those who follow His commandments and these blessings are incredible.
On the other hand, those who disobey or actively rebel (closed their ears) against God’s commandments, will not receive these blessings.
“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:
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-6
There’s more on the blessings in chapter 28, but isn’t that wonderful? If you diligently follow God’s commandments and listen to His voice, not only will God bless your life, but whatever you put your hand to will be blessed. Your children will be blessed and so will everything that you own. However, there is another side of this chapter.
“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:
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.”
Deuteronomy 28:15-22
Those who don’t follow God’s commandments or listen to His voice and teachings, do not receive those aforementioned blessings. In fact, they receive the exact opposite. God withdraws the blessings. When those blessings are withdrawn, due to disobedience and rebellion, God is no longer there to protect the people who refuse to listen. This allows for evil to enter causing disease and destruction.
But, God doesn’t want to withdraw blessing from his children. In Deuteronomy 30, we see that if the cursed turn away from their gods and their rebellion and again seek after God’s voice and teachings, God will have compassion on them and bring them back to the blessings.
“And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God will all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgements, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30
God doesn’t want his children to be in disobedience. He doesn’t want his children to be sick. He doesn’t want his children to be cursed.
He wants his children to be in obedience. He wants his children to be healthy. He wants to bless his children.
But, one of the beautiful things about our Heavenly Father is that he loves us so much that he has given us free will. He allows us to make our own decisions and choose how we live our lives. The choice is, will you choose the blessings or the curses?
If you have turned away from the voice of the LORD, it’s not too late to listen. It’s not too late to repent and follow God and his great will for your life. He is there to bring you back to a life of obedience and blessing.
I hope that this post has touched some part of your heart today. If you have any questions, please let me know. And remember, I always encourage my readers to go back and read the Bible for themselves. There might be something that I didn’t post here that might inspire you.
Until the next time, dear friends. Have a blessed day,
Amanda
A Thing or Two 