At first glance, the pronouncement of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28 seem to have one purpose—scare the children of Israel into obedience. Moses uses almost four times the space for curses as he does blessings in the text. The threat of punishment is often a greater motivator for obedience than reward. But, is this chapter solely about rewards and punishments?
To sum up Deuteronomy 28 as merely a listing of consequences is mechanical and shallow. The purpose of the text goes much deeper. God is not just delivering a listing to promote fearful obedience among the Israelites. There is a greater meaning to this chapter.
From Genesis 12 on, God has chosen the Israelites to be His chosen people. From the day they left Egypt, this had been clear to all of Israel. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have eaten manna and quail for forty years. They have followed a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. The direct providence of God has been clearly seen in their lives.
Upon gaining the Promised Land, the Israelites could potentially forget God. Israel needed to remember that God was the source of their life. Israel’s relationship was the very thing that gave their nationhood meaning. Without Jehovah, they truly would be nothing. Israel’s peace and well-being was wholly dependent on God. This is the crux of Deuteronomy 28. They would not be cursed for rebellion because God was a vengeful God. They would be cursed because life without Jehovah was death for the nation of Israel. Without Him they truly were nothing. They would not be blessed because God was happy when they obeyed but rather they were blessed because a relationship to God was the source of blessings—it was the source of their life.
An example of this is the respect other nations had for Israel. Rahab told the spies hidden on her rooftop that the people in Canaan knew that the Lord had given the land to Israel (Joshua 2:9–13). The Canaanites weren’t afraid of the Israelites. They were afraid of the Lord who supported and strengthened the Israelites. The historical account of the Old Testament shows clearly that Israel without God was easily defeated. It was only when they fulfilled their requirements of the covenant to have a relationship with God that they were blessed as a nation.
What can we learn? Just like Israel, our life is wholly dependent on the Lord. We sing songs like “Without Him” and “Count Your Blessings” which remind us of the need for God’s providence. We must realize God’s blessings and care are dependent on our relationship with Him. Jesus promises to take care of our needs but only when we put the kingdom first (Matthew 6:25–34). In contrast, God disciplines us when needed because He loves us (Hebrews 12:5–11). These statements are parallel to Deuteronomy 28. When we obey the Lord, He blesses us. Life will be good. When we choose to disobey the Lord, He disciplines us. Life will not be good.
Ultimately, our blessing or curse will come upon the Judgment Day. In Matthew 25 in the picture of the throne scene, the sheep are blessed for their service and obedience. They are allowed to receive the inheritance prepared from the beginning. The goats will be cast out into eternal fire prepared for the devil because they failed to be obedient and serve others. Jesus said, “…these go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
God is the source of our life. If we walk with Him, we will be blessed. If we choose to defiantly leave Him, we will be cursed. Our life is wholly dependent on Him. May we all choose wisely so that we may be blessed both here and in the world to come.
Deep Waters 