September 23, 2019
Long Is the List of Blessings God Gives Us When We Are Obedient
Deuteronomy 28:1–14
Chris Baird
Central Truth
The Bible is full of promises our loving Creator desires to deliver to us. However, it is only through our obedience to Him that we can receive them.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 28:9
"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."
Deuteronomy 28:1–14
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.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 28:1–14
After having wandered through the wilderness for 40 years, the weary Israelites receive an incredible offer of blessings from God through Moses. Tired and weary from their journey, they were finally ready to listen as Moses shared with them promises of the abundant life God wanted to give them.
God made it clear for the Israelites how they could receive His blessings. Moses directed the Israelites to fully obey the Lord their God and carefully follow all His commands. And because God knows we can be slow and not get it the first time, He repeated Himself (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 9, 13-14).
For their obedience and soft hearts, God promised to bless every aspect of their lives:
- Blessings of Protection wherever they are geographically (Deuteronomy 28:3, 6) and against their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:7).
- Blessings of Fertility and Prosperity through their offspring, their animals’ offspring, and their crops (Deuteronomy 28:4-5, 8, 11).
- Blessings of Provision through the fruits of their work (Deuteronomy 28:8, 11-12).
- Blessings of Position and Status as God's own holy people (Deuteronomy 28:9-10, 13).
Since it was impossible for them to meet all of God's commands, they had to offer sacrifices to make atonement for disobedience.
Like the Israelites, I, too, wandered through the wilderness of my sin and rebellion for 42 years. Because I served as my own god, I could not receive the blessings spoken of in these verses. My hardened heart was enslaved to a secret pornography addiction, I struggled with materialism and worshiped at the altar of self-gratification (Titus 3:3).
After a series of sovereignly ordained events, I confessed my sin (Psalm 51:4) and moved from defiance and destruction to obedience and repentance (Romans 6:6). God rescued me from the death I deserve and gave me a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) that yearns to obey Him and receive His blessings.
Unlike the Israelites, we are not held to the impossible standard of the law. Our Savior’s finished work on the cross covers the sins of those who believe (Romans 5:17). As people saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), we can receive the promised blessings from our loving Father.
Discussion Questions
1. In what way(s) is the Lord calling you to obedience now?
2. What would your life look like if you were to fully trust the Lord in the obedience He is calling you to?
3. A safe place to find freedom and healing from your sin struggle is at re:generation, Watermark's 12-Step Recovery Ministry.