Because of Israel’s relationship with the Lord, he expects them to act a certain way. He also promises to bless them abundantly in front of the whole world.
This will show their connection with him and what happens when people live by God’s values.
“If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).
Beginning with God’s call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), the children of Israel were intended to bless the world by revealing the reality of God.
To do this, they had to live according to their God-given purpose and follow his laws. Only by fully aligning their lives with God’s requirements could they vividly demonstrate His awe-inspiring character and make a powerful impact on the world.
God’s Blessings for the People
Verses 3-6: Verses 3 through 6 summarize the blessings by saying that if someone faithfully follows the Lord’s commandments, they will be blessed in every part of their life.
God’s blessings in all areas of life are crucial for the challenge Israel faces.
The Canaanite gods, Baal and Asherah, were fertility gods. Baalism was appealing because it involved sacred ritual sex to encourage these gods to grant fertility.
In contrast, presenting Yahweh as the only source of fertility is essential for Israel as God’s covenant nation.
Throughout history, people have worshipped idols because they promise to give something desired or needed. In ancient Canaan, fertility and crops were crucial for life. People worshipped Baal, Asherah, and other gods to ensure they received these essentials.
Idols, seen as substitutes for God, play a similar role today. We make enormous sacrifices to gain things like money, sex, power, and prestige, believing they are essential to the good life.
Verses 7-13: The covenant is like an ancient treaty between an overlord and his subjects. In this treaty, the lord has specific duties to provide for his subjects, which are the blessings.
The subjects’ role is to obey the overlord. Blessings come with obedience, while curses follow disobedience.
Like the treaties of lords and subjects, God motivates his followers to obey by promising them military victories, material wealth, a strong reputation, and international prominence if they follow his commandments.
One of the blessings is economic power. God’s chosen nation will have enough surplus to lend to other nations instead of borrowing from them.
The blessings seem to focus on one main theme, which is emphasized in verse 10.
“All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 28:10).
From the time of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) to now, God’s aim has been to use Israel to bless other nations.
By obeying God, Israel would show His character and the kind of relationship He wants with everyone. Their mission was to demonstrate to surrounding nations that Yahweh is the one true God, while their false gods were just that, false and empty.
The people of God, whether ancient Israelites or today’s followers of Jesus, share the same mission. We are to influence the world and help others build a relationship with God.
This involves loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. We do this by following the Lord’s commands, loving God fully, and treating our neighbors with the same love we have for ourselves.
Deuteronomy mentions many material blessings we enjoy. But, I believe the greatest blessing of walking with God as He desires is having a quality heart and life. We develop an inner self that responds to God’s love and cares for others.
That is the best blessing of all.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 