February 27, 2025
Blessings for Obedience and Curses for Disobedience
Deuteronomy 28-29
Chandler Carlisle
Big Book Idea
There are three sermons from Moses, but the greater Moses is still to come.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 28:1, 15
"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. . . . But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you."
Deuteronomy 28-29
Chapter 28
Blessings for Obedience
1 And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 9 The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 14 and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Curses for Disobedience
15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 16 Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 19 Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.
20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. 21 The LORD will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought 1 28:22 Or sword and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away. 27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with tumors and scabs and itch, of which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind, 29 and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. 2 28:29 Or shall not succeed in finding your ways And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you. 30 You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat any of it. Your donkey shall be seized before your face, but shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies, but there shall be no one to help you. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all day long, but you shall be helpless. 33 A nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, 34 so that you are driven mad by the sights that your eyes see. 35 The LORD will strike you on the knees and on the legs with grievous boils of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
36 The LORD will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD will lead you away. 38 You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall father sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours, for they shall go into captivity. 42 The cricket 3 28:42 Identity uncertain shall possess all your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43 The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.
45 All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. 46 They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, 50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young. 51 It shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; it also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your herds or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.
52 They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you. 53 And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. 54 The man who is the most tender and refined among you will begrudge food to his brother, to the wife he embraces, 4 28:54 Hebrew the wife of his bosom and to the last of the children whom he has left, 55 so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns. 56 The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces, 5 28:56 Hebrew the husband of her bosom to her son and to her daughter, 57 her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns.
58 If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, 59 then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60 And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the LORD will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. 62 Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 And as the LORD took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the LORD will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
64 And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65 And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the LORD will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see. 68 And the LORD will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey that I promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.”
Chapter 29
The Covenant Renewed in Moab
1 6 29:1 Ch 28:69 in Hebrew These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.
2 7 29:2 Ch 29:1 in Hebrew And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper 8 29:9 Or deal wisely in all that you do.
10 You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God: the heads of your tribes, 9 29:10 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew your heads, your tribes your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God is making with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, 15 but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.
16 You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed. 17 And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them. 18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, 19 one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. 20 The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And the LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law. 22 And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the LORD has made it sick— 23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath— 24 all the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?’ 25 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them. 27 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book, 28 and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as they are this day.’
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Footnotes
[1] 28:22 Or sword[2] 28:29 Or shall not succeed in finding your ways
[3] 28:42 Identity uncertain
[4] 28:54 Hebrew the wife of his bosom
[5] 28:56 Hebrew the husband of her bosom
[6] 29:1 Ch 28:69 in Hebrew
[7] 29:2 Ch 29:1 in Hebrew
[8] 29:9 Or deal wisely
[9] 29:10 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew your heads, your tribes
Table of Contents
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Timeline
Theme
Deuteronomy, the final book in the Pentateuch, contains Moses’ last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, Moses urges the people not to repeat those errors when they enter the Promised Land. Possessing Canaan will fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.
Purpose and Background
Deuteronomy is largely a sermon, or set of sermons, preached by Moses to all of Israel shortly before his death. It is a motivational sermon, urging Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant laws given 40 years previously at Sinai (Exodus 19–40).
The sermon is especially important because of Israel’s earlier failure to conquer the land (see Deut. 1:19–46). Now that they are back at the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses wants to ensure that the people will be obedient this time. The sermon encourages obedience by constantly reassuring them of God’s faithfulness and his power to keep his promises. God is still faithful, despite Israel’s persistent sin (e.g., 1:19–46; 9:1–29). He is merciful to his sinful people, for the sake of his promises to Abraham.
In Deuteronomy, Moses urges Israel to trust and obey, and to conquer the land. He highlights God’s uniqueness (e.g., ch. 4), his power over other nations and armies (e.g., 2:1–23), and his grace and faithfulness. He reminds the people that God promised the land, that God’s gift of the land is undeserved (9:4–6), and that the land is full of good things (e.g., 6:10–12).
Moses emphasizes the importance of God’s law, given at Sinai (e.g., see 5:1–3). The large central section of Deuteronomy (12:1–26:19) recites the law and urges Israel to keep it. The law is wide-ranging, incorporating all areas of life (economics, family and sexual relationships, religious observance, leadership, justice, guidance, food, property, and warfare). The details of the laws expand upon the great command of 6:5, that Israel is to love the Lord with all its heart, soul, and strength. Chapters 12–16 show what such total love of God will look like and provide examples of what the Ten Commandments (ch. 5) mean in practice.
Key Themes
- God’s uniqueness (4:1–40).
- Israel’s election (4:37–38; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; 14:2).
- The land’s goodness (1:25; 6:10–11; 8:7–13; 11:8–15).
- God’s faithful promise-keeping (1:8, 19–46; 7:1–26; 8:1–20; 9:1–10:11).
- God’s power to defeat the enemies in the land (2:1–3:11; 4:1–40; 7:1–26).
- Exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God (6:5; 10:12–13; 13:4).
- Warnings against idolatry and instruction for proper worship of God (4:9–31; 5:6–10; 7:1–5; 8:19–20; 12:1–32; 13:1–18).
- The impact of God’s laws (12:1–27:26).
- Moses’ imminent death (1:37; 3:26; 4:21; 32:51; 34:1–12).
Outline
- Prologue (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (27:1–28:68)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (29:1–30:20)
- Succession of Leadership (31:1–34:12)
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: Was Deuteronomy a treaty?
Was Deuteronomy a treaty? There are many similarities between the book of Deuteronomy and various ancient Near Eastern treaties that date from the time of Moses. When a nation made a treaty with a less powerful nation, the document began with the past relationship between the countries. Next, the treaty stated the laws that would govern the relationship from that point on. Finally, the treaty concluded with a list of blessings and punishments for obedience or disobedience.
Fact: A book of sermons?
A book of sermons? Deuteronomy consists of at least three addresses or sermons from Moses to Israel. Moses encourages Israel to obey all the commandments of God.
Fact: Jesus quoted from
Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other OT book. He quoted 8:3 when tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
Fact: The Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord. The high priest discovered this forgotten book while the temple was being repaired (34:14). After reading the Law, King Josiah called the nation to further measures of repentance and reform. The book may have included part or all of Deuteronomy.
Fact: Brimstone
Brimstone most likely refers to sulfur. It is a bright yellow, highly combustible mineral that puts out a terrible odor when it burns. Brimstone is abundant in the area around the Dead Sea. During earthquakes hot gases are released from inside the earth, which can cause the brimstone deposits to burst into flame (29:23).
Fact: Admah and Zeboiim
Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18–19; see Deut. 29:23). Though God’s rebellious people often deserve the same fate, his compassion restrains him from destroying them (Hos. 11:8).
Fact: Anointed with oil
Kings, priests, and prophets were sometimes anointed with oil as a sign that God had set them apart for a special purpose (see 1 Sam. 15:1; Lev. 8:30). More commonly, oil was used in cooking and to clean and moisturize the body (see Deut. 28:40; 2 Sam. 14:2).
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 28:3–6 For parallel curses, see vv. 16–19. city . . . field . . . come in . . . go out. The pairing of opposites indicates a blessing in all areas of life. fruit. The emphasis on fertility challenges the Canaanite view that Baal was the fertility god.
Deut. 28:7 your enemies . . . to be defeated. Compare v. 25.
Deut. 28:9 a people holy. See 7:6 and note.
Deut. 28:23 heavens . . . shall be bronze. Unable to bring rain. earth . . . shall be iron. Unable to produce food.
Deut. 28:30 betroth a wife. Compare 24:5. build a house . . . plant a vineyard. Compare 20:5–7.
Fact: Anointed with oil
Kings, priests, and prophets were sometimes anointed with oil as a sign that God had set them apart for a special purpose (see 1 Sam. 15:1; Lev. 8:30). More commonly, oil was used in cooking and to clean and moisturize the body (see Deut. 28:40; 2 Sam. 14:2).
Deut. 28:44 lend . . . head . . . tail. Compare vv. 12–13.
Deut. 28:46 a sign and a wonder. Signs and wonders usually refer to Israel’s salvation from slavery (e.g., 4:34; 7:19; 26:8); the use of the terms here is highly ironic.
Deut. 28:48 Yoke of iron suggests a return to slavery (see also v. 68).
Deut. 28:53 eat the fruit of your womb. The siege from the future enemy will be so dire that Israelites will resort to eating their children to stay alive. See 2 Kings 6:28–29; Lam. 4:10.
Deut. 28:58 glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God. The name is YHWH (Yahweh), revealed to Moses at the burning bush (see Ex. 3:14 and note).
Deut. 28:60 all the diseases of Egypt. See 7:15 and note on 7:12–15.
Deut. 28:61 The book of this law (compare v. 58) refers to chs. 1–30. See 31:9, 24, 26.
Deut. 28:62 Numerous . . . few threatens a reversal of the promises to Abraham. See 1:10 and note.
Deut. 28:64–66 scatter. See 4:27. Because the people will continue in their disobedience and will not repent, they will receive the consequences. The curse of exile will come for the northern kingdom from Assyria (2 Kings 17) and for the southern kingdom from Babylon (2 Kings 25).
Deut. 27:1–28:68 Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses. Ancient covenant treaties included blessings for keeping the treaty conditions and curses for not keeping them (see chart). These chapters describe the blessings and curses Israel will face for either keeping or failing to keep its covenant with the Lord.
Deut. 28:1–68 The focus shifts from specific sins that warrant curses to the content of the curses (vv. 15–68), preceded by a shorter list of blessings (vv. 1–14).
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 29:1 The covenant in the land of Moab restates the covenant at Horeb (Sinai).
Deut. 29:2–3 You have seen . . . before your eyes . . . your eyes saw. See 1:30–31 and note on 1:29–31.
Deut. 29:4 not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. Israel needs God to correct its lack of obedient heart, eyes, and ears. See 30:6 and note.
Deut. 29:5–8 clothes . . . feet. See 8:4. that you may know. See 8:3. Sihon . . . Og. See 2:24–3:17.
Deut. 29:13 establish you today as his people. See 27:9 and note.
Deut. 29:15 Whoever is not here with us today refers to future generations.
Deut. 29:18 root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit. If one Israelite begins to practice idolatry, the sin will be contagious, infecting other Israelites (v. 19).
Deut. 29:19 blesses himself in his heart. An expression of pride (compare 8:17 and note on 7:17–18).
Deut. 29:20–21 jealousy. See 4:24 and note on 4:23–24. Book of the Law. See 28:61 and note.
Deut. 29:23 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24–25) is used several times in the Bible as an example of God’s judgment (e.g., Amos 4:11; Matt. 10:14; 2 Pet. 2:6). Admah, and Zeboiim. See Gen. 10:19.
Fact: Brimstone
Brimstone most likely refers to sulfur. It is a bright yellow, highly combustible mineral that puts out a terrible odor when it burns. Brimstone is abundant in the area around the Dead Sea. During earthquakes hot gases are released from inside the earth, which can cause the brimstone deposits to burst into flame (29:23).
Fact: Admah and Zeboiim
Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18–19; see Deut. 29:23). Though God’s rebellious people often deserve the same fate, his compassion restrains him from destroying them (Hos. 11:8).
Deut. 29:24–28 These verses anticipate future idolatry and God’s curses.
Deut. 29:29 secret things belong to the LORD our God. Not everything that is true of God has been revealed. The things that have been revealed enable God’s people to obey him (that we may do); that there are still secret things means they must trust and be humble before him, and never imagine they know all the answers.
Does the Lord bring ruin upon his people?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Deuteronomy 28-29
There is often a mentality among Christians that if you do good things, then God will bless you, and if you do bad things, then bad things will happen to you. In reality, this is not true for Christians today. Sometimes, good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people. However, it is a different story for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.
God gave the nation of Israel a set of rules they were to follow and asked them to remain faithful to Him alone. In Deuteronomy 28–29, God makes a promise to Israel, stating that if they keep the laws God had made for them and stay faithful to Him, then they will be greatly blessed through riches, land, and victory over their enemies. However, if they break the law, then the opposite will happen; they will be greatly punished and lose everything. God warns them that they will be overtaken by their enemies, scattered from their land, and experience great persecution.
As vivid and difficult as these two chapters can be to read, they have opened my eyes to understand the story of Israel. There are points where they are obedient and blessed. There are others where they disobey God, and the nation suffers. Sadly, the latter was often true. The nation continued to fall into sin and worship other gods. As a result, God exiled their kingdom from the Promised Land. Because of their sin, the law became more of a curse for Israel rather than a blessing.
In reality, we're no different from Israel. We are just as sinful. The law and the story of Israel's failures reveal to us that we cannot earn our salvation and God's blessing through works. This truth points to our need for freedom from the law, a way to be justified apart from our works. We need a greater Moses to free us from the law—Jesus Christ. It is by Jesus' sacrifice that we are no longer bound by the law and are free because He satisfied its demands.
This month's memory verse
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Discussion Questions
1. What are some passages or stories in the Old Testament in which you can see Israel experiencing both sides of the promise?
2. Take time to read Galatians 3:10–14 with Deuteronomy 28–29. Why do you think Paul views the law as a curse?
3. Why is it a good thing that Christians are not promised blessings and curses based on their choices?