Blessings and Curses

My dear husband encouraged me to investigate this topic as a starting point to address the question on a few of the girls hearts I am mentoring:

"Where was God when these terrible things happened to me?" 

A tough question to say the least. One you are inclined to give an easy, comforting answer to. But I will not insult the Father by presuming to speak for Him. I will seek His heart in the matter.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, God explains part of His system to man. He explains how it is to live in Covenant Blessing, by obeying the commands of the Lord. Is this system still in action today though? I think we'd better be careful before we say it isn't...

• We can be sure we know Him if we keep His commands - 1 John 2:3
• If we love Him we will keep His commands - John 14:15

What is the system? 
Simply put, we either live in covenant with God and therefore receive the privilege of His protection and blessings, or we live far from Him so that He is not our covering - and how can He protect us?

Choice #1. The Blessing - "If you listen closely to what ADONAI your God says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot (commands) which I am giving you today, ADONAI your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance - if you will do what ADONAI your God says," (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)...and He goes on to list blessings.   Choice #2. The Curse  - "But if you refuse to pay attention to what ADONAI your God says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot (commands) and regulations which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be yours in abundance," (Deuteronomy 28:15)...and He goes on to list curses, which is a much longer and more comprehensive list, maybe to dissuade us from choosing this option all the more!

I believe this is a point that a lot of "Christians" miss. It is a choice to know God, follow Him, and obey His commands. And there are consequences for our choices:

"I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving ADONAI your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him - for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land ADONAI swore he would give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."   A great website, talking more about the importance of keeping God's commands can be found here: 
 http://www.therefinersfire.org/missed_point.htm

Day 6 Reviewed

Deuteronomy 20 - Joshua 21

     There is a depth to the book of Joshua that I'd like to go back and study more later. For now, I don't feel like I have a whole lot to say about it, because it carried on a lot of similar themes we saw in the previous books. (Hopefully this in not a cop-out on my part)
     My dad was talking to me this morning, and was saying how he believed that in times past, (before we had civil society -- whatever that means) it was simply an animalistic, dog-eat-dog world, and the bigger man or larger force would come out on top. Apart from God, this might be true. But with God, it's just not the case, as we've already seen.
     Again, in Deuteronomy 20, we see God proving this.

"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you...for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to save you."     (Deuteronomy 20:1, 4)

      God promised that He would fight FOR them! Another verse, I believe somewhere in Deuteronomy, that I memorized a while ago said a similar thing. It told the Israelites that the enemy they saw today, they would never see again, all they had to do was WATCH as God destroyed it! That definitely spoke to me, at the time, about the enemies in my life (not necessary people) but things in my life I would have gladly never seen again. And you know what? He did it! He even destroyed all those enemies in my life, as I, personally, believed on this verse.
     Another key I noticed in the above verse is, "fear." God told them simply, not to fear, as He says all throughout His Word! It has to be one of the most repeated phrases! Why? Because fear completely undermines confidence in God. When fear is let in, thoughts came too, like "I don't know, maybe we can't do this." Well, it was never them who were going to do it in the first place, it was God through them. So, that decision that they can't do it, is the one that actually comes to pass!!
 
     One more proof from the end of today's reading, that God is worthy of our confidence is this. (By the way, at this point, the Israelites have made it to the promised land, and were being given each their portion, and they were once again at rest. God had subdued their enemies on every side). So it was said: "NOT ONE of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; ALL CAME TO PASS." (Joshua 21:45, caps mine) Simple as that!!!

     God is worthy of my confidence! Glory be to Him!

Day 5 Reviewed

Numbers 21 - Deuteronomy 19

     Sometimes, the path just seems blocked. I've prayed about it, and I've prayed about it, I decide to do it. And I fall flat on my face. What happened?

• Balaam and Balak (and that awesome donkey!)

     I love this story!! Balak comes and offers Balaam tons of money to curse the Israelites. Balaam prays about it and God tells him no, he shall "not curse the people, for they are blessed," (Numbers 22:12). So, Balak comes back and offers even more tons of money. Balaam prays about it again (ha!) and God seems to give him the go ahead.
     On the way, the donkey that Balaam is riding starts wigging out. The donkey runs off into a field, then he squishes his rider up against a wall, then he just sits down under Balaam and refuses to go on! Balaam has been striking this donkey each time he acts strangely (understandably). But finally, the donkey opens his mouth and SAYS, "What have I done to you?" Oh, my.
     And they actually carry on a little diatribe. Turns out the donkey has actually been seeing an angel of God that's been blocking his path. God opens Balaam's eyes so he can finally see it too. Finally, they are allowed to proceed, but Balaam is reminded to speak to the Israelites exactly what God tells him to.
     What he speaks over the people, of course, turns out to be a whopper of a blessing, much to Balak's chagrin.

     So it might not directly relate to my topic. But what stood out to me was that Balaam's way was NOT easy. Well, God did not want him to go in the first place! I don't believe that even Balaam had peace in his heart about going, just a lot of excitement about what he could do with all the cash. He was enticed by dollar signs, so God said, Fine. If you want it that bad, go for it. But we're gonna do this my way. I'll show you my displeasure, and in the end, my will - what I want (in this case, the Israelites to be blessed) will still be accomplished. And so through greed, disobedience, and even Balak's intent to curse, the Israelites were blessed!!! What kind of God this must be!

• Oh The Places They Went!

     Numbers 33 is a list of more than 40 different places the Israelites moved to during their 40-year camping trip.
     I've been married 3 years, and I thought the fact that we moved about twice a year was tough. And I basically know the routine of where I'm going -- the Israelites were being led. They didn't have an itinerary or a road map. They generally had no clue where they were going next. I can't say that I would not have "grumbled and complained."
     Oh, but to be able to trust God and move on each day in faith!! How much different might their journey (and mine) be? God had even promised them He was leading them someplace great! He was not leading them to death, or even on a pointless, wild goose chase. He was teaching them how He wanted them to live there (God's way) because they would not only live, but truly live and prosper! Moses speaks God's word to the people of Israel:

     "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to posses it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?"

     I love the last part!
     Finally, they are getting to the promised land, not by obedience of their own, but by the promise of God. He continues to plead with them to obey Him, only for their own good. The words God speaks through the prophets threaten to bring tears to my eyes and sadness to my heart. Because, I can hear Him speaking the same thing to me as I go about my days.
     First He describes breathtakingly abundant life they can have: the water, the springs, the crops, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, honey...they shall LACK NOTHING, He says! Surely I could be at ease if I understood I lacked nothing!
     But please, He says, Don't forget me then.
     Don't misunderstand, God is not lonely. He is the only one who can handle our mess, and keep us straightened out.
     This He speaks to me:

"When YOU have eaten and are satisfied, and have built GOOD HOUSES and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery...Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'MY power and the strength of MY hand made this wealth.' But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers,"  (Deuteronomy 8:10-18, caps mine)

     Lord, Blessed be Your Name! The impossible is true: According to your Promise, I lack nothing.        Hope you heard from Him today :)