Day 19

Blessings and Curses

from the Deuteronomy reading plan


Deuteronomy 27:9-26, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Galatians 3:10-26

BY Kara Gause

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).

Post Comments (32)

32 thoughts on "Blessings and Curses"

  1. Jessica Naramore says:

    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.

  2. Victoria Fowlkes says:

    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.”

  3. Nads says:

    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.

  4. Maura says:

    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.

  5. Catherine McVey says:

    Amen! Thank you Kristen!

  6. ERB says:

    KRISTEN, beautiful prayer!! Amen!!! ❤️

  7. Searching says:

    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.

  8. Mandy Clark says:

    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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *