Articles
Life or Death - Deut. 28-29
Life or Death - Deut. 28-29
As Moses is ready to die and leave the leadership of Israel in the hands of Joshua, he addresses them in this series of sermons known as the book of Deuteronomy. Now in chapters 28 - 29 he lays before them the blessings that they COULD have but also the curses that can also come upon them. Behold the goodness and the severity of God! As Moses would later say: "I set before life and death - choose life" (Deut. 30:19).
The list of blessings is remarkable and makes one wonder how great the nation of Israel would have been, if only ... This 'IF' is specified 73 times in 68 verses in Deuteronomy. Here in chapters 28 - 29 it appears 6 times. They could and must choose. The choice would not be in 'voting' or 'agreeing', but in living. Notice: if you obey 281: if you obey (28:2); if you keep the commandments (28:9); if you listen to the commandments (28:13); if you do NOT obey (28:13); if you do NOT obey the LORD (28:15); if you are not careful to observe all the words of this law (28:58).
Such obedience did not require perfection, for God had provided for sacrifice and forgiveness. Though they might sin, even as a nation, there was the provision made for them if only they would repent and turn back to God.
For those who have read the story of the Old Testament, you know that it will be a time of difficulty as time after time, generation after generation turns away from following God. They were a stiff-necked and stubborn people. Even the terrible threats of judgment (read again the eating of their own offspring (53, 57). Just the thought of such should have made them serve the LORD in faithfulness. The fear of the LORD should have kept them from such sin, and the love of God should have brought about their loving faithfulness in return. It was not to be!
We, reading this with the gift of hindsight, can see the longsuffering of God towards them. We see the multiplied times of mercy that the Lord showed unto them. We see that, even though they were unfaithful to Him, He remained faithful to His promises.
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." (Hebrews 1:1–2)
"Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation," (Hebrews 5:8–9)
Are you obeying our Lord, or do you also despise the goodness of God?
Hugh DeLong
