Deuteronomy_28
Deuteronomy 28:22 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: ObservationDeuteronomy was written around 1406 BC, at the end of the forty years of wandering endured by the nation of Israel. At the time, the people were camped on the east side of the Jordan River, on the plains of Moab, across from the city of Jericho (Deuteronomy 1:1; 29:1). They were on the verge of entering the land that had been promised centuries earlier to their forefathers (Genesis 12:1, 6–9). The children who had left Egypt were now adults, ready to conquer and settle the Promised Land. Before that could happen, the Lord reiterated through Moses His covenant with them. [https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-pentateuch/Deuteronomy]UnderstandingWe’ve heard PG share before about the premise and the promise. Well, the “big idea” of Deuteronomy is that the promised covenant is dependent on the premise of obedience…and the consequences are pretty intense. He spends 14 verses sharing all the goodness and blessings that come with obedience – blessed wherever they go, blessings over their children and the things they put their hands to, blessings over their food, safety from their enemies, abundance – and follows it with 54 verses about the curses of disobedience. Granted, we are in New Testament living now; but many of our promises still rest on the premise of our obedience to God. And, often times, that obedience is just stepping out in faith – not necessarily knowing where the next step is. Ruth, as we’ve been learning about on Sunday mornings, is a great example of living by faith. While circumstances may not have immediately shown it, God was always at work in the details; so she kept working and, sure enough, she was blessed in and through that work because of her obediance. Life ApplicationThe premise is where character is built. If we received the promise, without the premise – or if the circumstances changed, without the heart growth needed to received and/or maintain those blessings, the results could be disastrous. God cares far more about the people we become (and how useful we will be in His story of transforming lives) than giving in to our momentary wants or needs. God, you’ve been incredibly gracious and giving to me. Help me, in the times of your stretching, to be patient in the process – to hold tight to and rest in your promise, working and praising as if it’s already here. So grateful for your love for me; help me to be a conduit of it today, pouring it out on everyone I meet. In your name, I pray. Amen.
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