When I entered my twenties, I began to appreciate my parents’ commitment in raising me, or honestly, just keeping me alive all those years. When I got married, my eyes were opened to the startling reality of how thoroughly selfish I can be. (It’s astounding, I tell you.) And when I became a parent, I got a glimpse at just how unfathomably patient God has been toward me.
These are my personal experiences, yet when I read today’s passages from Deuteronomy, I’m reminded of how much patience and mercy God has always extended toward His people. In these verses, God spells out for His children through Moses and the Levitical priests, exactly what is required for them to belong to Him—and what will happen should they stray (Deuteronomy 27:9).
For Israel, choosing God and obeying His ways would yield abundant blessing (Deuteronomy 28:2). Choosing any other way, whether their own, or the practices of surrounding nations, would result in complete and utter catastrophe, something God does not want (v.14). Each graphic detail of blessing or curse works to help them choose to wholeheartedly love and obey Him. If they agree to the terms of the covenant but don’t follow through with obedience, calamity will follow; ultimately, they “will be ripped out of the land [they] are entering to possess,” scattered across other nations, and sent back to Egypt, where they will hope to sell themselves back into slavery (v.63).
Mind you, these are hardly “gotcha” curses, coming out of nowhere. It’s as if God is intentionally detailing these consequences to ward them off destructive paths. Israel doesn’t have to be overtaken by curses; God is equally offering the chance to be overtaken by blessing instead—by joyfully serving God and obeying the law (v.2,47).
So often, I tend to separate God’s character from His commands, considering them a burden when they’re meant to be a gift “for the sake of [our] transgressions,” protecting us from our sin and ourselves (Galatians 3:19). In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul explained that the law once contained our sin, even acting as “our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith” in Him (v.24). No, we could never keep it perfectly, but it led the way until “the way, the truth, and the life” Himself came to fulfill it on our behalf (Matthew 5:17; John 14:6). It was given by a mediator, and in the end, perfectly fulfilled by our great Mediator (Galatians 3:19–20).
Growing up, I rarely understood the purpose of boundaries and discipline in the moments I so desperately needed them. “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time,” regardless of how lovingly it is given (Hebrews 12:11). I wonder if the same can be said of how I instinctively view God’s commands, failing to see them as the protection and provision they offered God’s wayward people until freedom offered by faith in Jesus Christ became ours (Galatians 3:25–26).
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32 thoughts on "Blessings and Curses"
I can’t escape God’s blessings when I obey him and I couldn’t have escaped his just curses when I abandoned his plan and wrote my own. I can’t follow my heart because it is broken like a compass that doesn’t point North for direction. But now he has provided the way of escape and of blessing. The way still means choosing him and sacrificing what I can see as easy and right. The way also includes repenting directly through Jesus’ sacrifice when I make the wrong choice and sin. Thank you God for your faithfulness and extending your grace to all nations.
How I need not only to be reminded of the curses of disobedience but the blessings of obedience by a God who would die on a cross for me. I struggle with obedience. Holy Spirit, help me with my disobedience.
My gosh! I never realized what is truly meant by God always keeps his promises! I know that to be true, but this study makes that literal in Galatians 3:13-14. Wow is all I can say. God’s promise to Abraham was BEFORE the law. I knew that, but now that I’ve read this, it hits me in a much deeper way. So amazing! I’m in awe this evening.
We are blessed through obedience of god and his will and his way lord you are good.
Lord you are good and you are great you are the king of kings and lord and lord and we worship you on today let your annoiting reign and saturate our lives and our houses of worship lord have your way lord remove anything from us that should not be that would hinder your worship your move your annoiting lord we declare and decree healing restoration prosperity debt cancellation provision all that you have for us lord we receive it lord we rebuke and bind the enemy lord in the name of Jesus no weapon formed against us shall not prosper in Jesus name bless our leaders of our ministries lord and we will forever give your name the praise we honor you lord and reverance you lord and we declare and decree it is in Jesus name! Hallelujah!
i love this!!!
❤️
I am still processing, but this hit me hard. I have always been such a rule follower. And I felt most loved when I did the “right things.” And this reminder that I am not imprisoned to the law anymore, literally brought me to tears.
Hello and good Friday, my dearest friends! As always when I read Deuteronomy, I see God’s love and patience though out every line. I find it so inspirational! I didn’t find it harsh or cold, but a beautiful promise that God always carries us through everything. I also saw the curses like how life gets when we try to solve our own problems, and exclude God from them. When this happens.. things will get worse. We simply cannot rely on our own strength!. But when we rely on God.. then beautiful things start to happen. I believe thats when real faith breaks through. He is our SUPERHERO!
So many blessings listed, and so many curses! I feel like, if I were the Israelites I would be way to afraid to NOT obey God’s words…but then I look back on my own life and see how many times in the past I did things my way – without God. And then I am humbled and thankful that God didn’t pour any of His wrath upon me. He could have, but He didn’t. God is gracious and merciful and wants to bless us. He is slow to anger, loving and forgiving – how can I not love, serve and obey Him! Have a blessed weekend all my SRT sisters!
I’ve been doing the study, but not commenting. My husband is having a lot of pain. He started hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Praying that helps. Tanner is stable. We adjusted one of his meds and hoping that helps him as well.
I agree with Terri and Kristen about our nation. We need to pray hard.
Mandy Clark–Thank you for your well thought and stated reflection of today’s readings.
Prayers, Jessie! God is not absent.
Paul hit the “nail on the head” when he wrote, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) Faith is what will carry anyone through anything. The stronger the faith the more you can get through and you can help others.
Have a blessed and wonderful weekend sisters of Christ.
Thank you Kathy for posting this. I was feeling the same way and felt this utter relief and joy when I got to the passages from Galatians. My thankfulness to Jesus for saving us from our inevitable failures is inexpressible. Nads, I will keep praying for Danny’s family.
Jessie I’m so sorry this happened ! I will pray for you
Thank you TERRI for pulling out that verse.
Thanks KRISTEN for your prayer…Amen!
This struck me “All these blessings will come and OVERTAKE YOU, because you obey the Lord your God…” (28:2) — I love this idea of being bathed in and overwhelmed by his blessings!!!
(Sadly, there’s a later verse about curses “come and overtake”)
“The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he swore to you, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples of the earth will see that YOU BEAR THE LORD’S NAME, and they will STAND IN AWE of you.” (Deuteronomy 28:9-10)
Lord, let my life be one of obedience to and OVERFLOWING LOVE for You!
Jessie, I am so sorry that you have experienced this awful accident. Praying the Lord will bring beauty from ashes. Praying for physical healing for the little boy and for emotional healing for all of you.
We are free from the law but not free to sin. We are free from the bondage of sin. We have salvation by faith through Christ alone but once we are saved we are to walk in His ways. I think it’s important to see that obedience to Gods commandments cannot save us but it does reflect where are hearts truly dwell. If we love God (first 4 commandments) and love others (next 6 commandments); we won’t kill each other or steal from one another or lie, we won’t worship other gods or make graven images. I could spend my entire life without ever murdering anyone but that wouldn’t save me. I could keep the sabbath my entire life and that wouldn’t save me. Only faith in Jesus Christ saves me and once I am saved I am free to live a life of love and obedience and gratefulness for that most precious gift. He said he will know us by our fruit. Plenty will cry out Lord Lord but he will say depart from me I never knew you. Believing Christ died for us then going on a murder spree or stealing your neighbors wife without repentance will not get you into heaven. 2 Peter 20 20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,f only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”g and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
I’m late, just catching up from yesterday….
MARI V, JOHANNA, TAYLOR, LEXI B, ASH H., AZ WALKER, DOROTHY, MAURA, ERB, VICTORIA E and all who mentioned requests, I am praying! (I’m sure I’ve missed someone)
HEATHER HAHN,…Sweet Lord, please bless every person and part of these situations that are known and yet unknown…oh, my heart!
RUTH LONG, I echo your beautiful prayer!
ANGIE, I’m praying for you and am so thankful for your prayer and sharing what you did. I believe his wife and sisters have peace but, we need to continue to pray that it remains strong. I have prayed his son will run TOWARDS God as his Father rather than away for the rest of his life.
Please continue to pray for the family of Danny.
Good Morning Sisters,
I just read through yesterday as I had a busy morning I was unable to yesterday. Praying for all the requests. Such heaviness, But God, we know who He is. Heather Hahn, praying for these families, that despite all they will feel Jesus love pour out on them from believers all around and know the Truth. Nads, so sorry for your loss praying for Danny’s family and that their faith will be strengthened as they remember him. There is much to pray for, please know that I will be praying even if I did not mention you. God has been reminding me that what I need is only found in Him. In trusting the very One who has always provided for me and that He is able and He loves me. Know Sisters He is with you and holding you right where you are, draw near to our Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and hold tight to Him. Hugs and Love to all.
Amen! Thank you Kristen!
KRISTEN, beautiful prayer!! Amen!!! ❤️
NADS – praying for Danny’s family, comfort and strength in the days ahead
MARI V – praying for healing of your ankle
HEATHER HAHN – praying over your heartbreaking requests, for the baby in NICU and the dad over the loss of his wife/baby’s mom and also for your friend’s wife and children as they deal with such a tragic loss of life.
ANGIE – praying for all that you, your school and students are dealing with. Scary to think that the world can sit back and watch our country self destruct over the mask and vaccine issues. Never dreamed of this level of controversy when covid first started.
ASH H – praying for your sister in law and a new job, that her willingness to work will guide her and her future employer. And for you and family – comfort over loss of your brother.
AZ WALKER – praying for work and daughter’s school decisions.
I was going through my study this morning and today’s reading is harsh. It’s hard to read because we all know how it turns out…Israel eventually is taken captive and they lose everything, just like Moses said they could. This OT is still so applicable to our today. Although we are not subject to the law, God reveals his nature, his will for humanity, his moral laws and his guidelines for living through the law. We cannot be saved by keeping it but only by trusting in Christ. The law then is written on our hearts and our hearts are bent toward righteousness because of the spirit. It’s amazing and beautiful how this all comes together and we see how much God loves us, his great mercy and patience for us and his sovereignty.
Kristen, thank you for posting these words this morning. They touched me in a special way.
Thankful for a merciful and patient God who doesn’t give up on His wayward people <3
Kristen, thank you for that powerful prayer.
Morning sisters and friends.
Thank you Kathy Sites for your post, “not threats, consequences,” I like that and it’s truth. :)
I’ve written down the requests from yesterday. I have time to post only or pray. I’m going to chose to pray for each of them this morning. So Mari V, Ash H, AZ Walker, Lexi B, Heather Hahn, and NADS God hears our prayers. He is faithful. Praying for His will, presence, grace and mercy in each situation. NADS, when I prayed for Danny yesterday I felt like God told me his dry bones would be made new again; but in heaven with Him. I know that is not the answer the family wanted. It is just not every time I pray that I hear a direct answer immediately, and I felt like I did and you confirmed it then – I wanted to be sure to thank God and acknowledge His goodness and peace upon my heart. May it be transferred to his wife, child, mom, and family. Now, I need some time to pray. Amen.
Terri, you are right. We do need to pray for our nation and leaders. “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
When I read this verse, I noticed that the verse says, “If my people, who are called by my Name,” Please,God have mercy and draw all to You to be Your people.Please bring conviction and may they/ we repent. Let us hate what You hate and love what You love. We as a nation have sinned! God, we celebrate and accept things that are against Your Word. We have laws and establishments to legalize things that are not contradictory to Your Ways. I individually have sinned. Please forgive us and me. Please let those in leadership and all of us care more about what You think than what people think. Please let the Bible be the Source and Standard by which we live, breathe, have our laws and statutes. Please let changes come that are pleasing to You. Dear God, this will not happen without You. Please step in God. I need You and we need You. Please have mercy on us and do what only You can do. May Your Name be feared, honored, and praised in this land Amen.
Reading through the 28th chapter, my mind was filled with fear and dread. And then I realized that ALL these verses are not threats but consequences. Satan is doing his best to make me forget that. He wants my mind to stop on the curses and forget about the blessings. People are sick, and that is why we need a Great Physician…one the will heal us, mind, body, and spirit…we need THE ONE! I don’t post often, but I read all the comments and prayer requests. It is a blessing that I can be a part of a sisterhood community. I thank all of you She’s…you are a blessing every morning!
TERRI same verse jumped out to me today “Because you didn’t serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart, even though you had an abundance of everything.”
How much more do I now have an abundance in Christ?
I had a pastor who used to say to watch that you do not “claim” all the promises of God as yours…the curses are promises too.
ASH H, HEATHER HAHN & NADS – praying
Women of God please pray for this country. Especially that the hand of God be stayed. These words jumped out at me today. De. 28:47. “Even though you had an abundance of everything “. De. 28:59. He will bring…. and terrible and chronic diseases”. People who have had the vaccine are dying of Covid.