Of Blessing and Cursing

Life Talk Devotion 02/28/2024 

In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapters 29 and 30 highlight the end of a 40 year desert trek for the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. Moses admonishes the stiffed necked Israelites with a message from God as they prepare to enter the promised land. Moses sees his days coming to an end as God has told him his death is near and the leadership of the people will transition to Moses’ second in command, Joshua.

Moses delivers the final encouragements and warnings from God to the people he has loved, wrestled with and stood in the gap to protect when they let sin overwhelm their lives. The messages are direct and truthful as relayed from God which portrays the heart of this reluctant shepherd who cared for his flock and sought to protect them from themselves. But as with all of us, Moses acknowledges that the choice is theirs to do what is right in their lives or walk in the evil ways of the nations around them.

Each day we face choices that either honor God or dishonor His Name and over time those choices reveal our attitude and heart toward God. As Moses points out, it is our life choices that dictate the hand of God moving either in a blessing or a cursing upon our lives. Moses’ admonitions were not heeded by the people. The violation of God’s principles of right living defined by His Word that He gave the Israelites proved disastrous for them as a nation and a people. History proves the Israelites breached the limit of God’s patience after significant warnings hence suffering the devastating consequences of His judgement. The bottom line is that the choices we make whether as an individual or a nation will dictate God’s hand over our lives

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;….. Deuteronomy 30:19-20a

These are powerful verses that still apply today in principle to our walk with God. Yes, it is obvious none of us are perfect and all are declared by God as sinners and needing a Savior (Romans 3:23) . But when wickedness and evil overtake a nation or a people, God has no choice than to remove His blessing given He is just and righteous. He cannot give us a “wink, wink” as a pass to overt corruption and depravity in our lives or the actions of a nation. As He did with Israel, God reaches a point where He lifts the hand of favor and turns a people over to the consequences of their actions allowing both natural and divine penalties to have their way as described in Romans 1:18-32.

No matter how far we stray, God is always calling us back to Himself. Many times in the Old Testament, the Israelites strayed in unbelief and rebellion towards God ignoring His Word. Yet, even with imminent judgement at hand, God’s tender call was for Israel to return to Him (i.e. – Jeremiah 3:1-12). God tells us His mercy is new everyday and does not come with an expiration date as long as we turn to Him.

Today, God’s call to all people is to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ who gave Himself as a penalty for our sin. Each of us has that choice of how we will respond to God’s call of salvation through Christ. As Moses put it: “we have life and death set before you, therefore choose life”. For all who receive Jesus by faith, He said “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-11). Which do you choose?

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