Blessings for Obedience

Deuteronomy Chapter 11

Moses still instructs the Israelite people to obey all of God’s laws and commands. He says he is not talking to their children who had never experienced the discipline of the Lord or seen his awesome power. They weren’t there to see the miracles and wonders performed in Egypt and against the Pharaoh. They didn’t see what the Lord did to the armies of Egypt and to their horses and chariots – how he drowned them in the Red Sea as they were chasing the Israelites or see how the Lord cared for his people in the wilderness. They didn't see what the Lord did to Dathan and Abriam when the earth opened up and swallowed them along with their household of tents and all that belonged to them. But you have, he said, seen all the Lord’s mighty deeds with your own eyes.

Moses go on to tell the people that if they obey the commands he gives, they will go in and occupy the promised land and have long life in this land of milk and honey. This land which is not like Egypt from which the people came, it has hills and valleys with plenty of rain. And if the people obey the commands and love the Lord with their heart and soul, then he will send the rain at the proper season and give them a lush harvest and pastureland.

Do not turn away from the Lord to worship other Gods, Moses warns. If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you and he will shut up the sky and hold back the rain and the people would die. So commit yourselves, he urged, and tie a reminder on your hands and wear one on your forehead. Teach your children and talk about these things when you are home, or on a journey, lying down or getting up. Write them on your doorposts so you and your children may flourish.

Be careful, Moses says, to obey all the commands and show love to the Lord by walking in his ways and clinging to him. Then the Lord would drive out all the nations in your land, though they are much greater and stronger than the Israelites. Wherever you set your feet, he said, the land will be yours and no one will stand against you, for the Lord will send fear and dread ahead of you.

Today, Moses said, I give you the choice between a blessing and a curse. Obey the commands of the Lord or receive a curse if you reject the commands of the Lord. When the Lord brings you into the promised land, you must pronounce a blessing from Mount Grizim and a curse from Mount Ebal, for you are about to cross the Jordan.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW Isreal had witnessed a parade of miracles that God’s love and care gave them. But they still had trouble being faithful. We may not have seen these dramatic miracles, but we have the Bible, the written record of God’s acts throughout history and these glimpses give us an opportunity to strengthen our faith in God.

How does this chapter relate to us in today’s world? God gave the people a choice between blessings and curses (later in Joshua 8:34 these choices are reviewed again). We have that same choice daily. We can choose to live our lives for ourselves or choose to live in service to God. This is not rocket science, people! -God’s way leads to everlasting life. How wonderful is that!

Yours in Christ,
Mary