DCLM STS CONDITIONS FOR BLESSINGS AND CURSES
MEMORY VERSE: “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3,4).
TEXT: Leviticus 26:1-46
God gave unequivocal instructions to the children of Israel after He brought them out of the land of Egypt. In particular, He warned them against the dire consequences of idolatry. This warning was necessary because the Israelites had been exposed to idol worship in Egypt and virtually in all the nations they encountered in their wilderness journey. Also, there were mixed multitudes among them who would introduce strange worship and probably lead the people astray. Moreover, God knew that their Canaanite neighbour would constitute a source of temptation to worship idols. As a matter of fact, at Sinai, Israel had shown how prone they were to idolatry when they set up the golden calf. In this chapter, the Lord commanded Moses to inform the children of Israel that they would enjoy the blessings of their covenant relationship with Him only if they were obedient. Disobedience and backsliding would bring them untold sufferings, and only genuine repentance would abate the punishment and misery that come upon them. This shows that the promises of God are conditional. Believers are enjoined to be obedient to the word of God in order to enjoy His blessing (Deuteronomy 11:26-28: 27:10: Jeremiah 7:23). Disobedience to the law of God attracts His indignation.
1. CATALOGUE OF BLESSINGS FOR THE OBEDIENT
Leviticus 26:1-13; Deuteronomy 28:1-13; 30:2,3,8-10,20; Job 36:11; Genesis 22:15-17; Proverbs 10:22
God demands complete obedience from His children. His instruction to Israel was very clear: “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3,4). The condition for enjoying God’s blessings was stated here in plain language. As believers, we have a part to play in order to benefit from the blessings of God. Obedience to God’s instructions as stated in the Holy Writ Concerning every area of our Christian life is very paramount as we run the race to heaven. God prohibited the making or worship of idols. He commanded: “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image…” He hates idolatry in any shade or form. This is because idolatry places another person or thing above Him. In essence, an idol becomes the object of devotion, rather than God, the Creator. Idolatry is the greatest affront against God and it must be avoided (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21). Of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, the first three centered on warning against idolatry (Exodus 20:3-5). Also, God commanded the Israelites thus: “Ye shall keep the sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary…” The sanctuary of God today among believers is our place of worship. He said where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them. Also, the body of a believer is regarded as the spiritual temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:5). Both the physical place of worship and the spiritual temple must be held in reverence. It is written: “Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever” (Psalm 93:5). Believers must be conscious of God’s presence at all times and avoid every form of irreverence to His sanctuary. Such acts of irreverence include defiling our bodies with drugs immorality, tatoos and turning the house of God to a center for merchandise, making noise and distracting other worshippers with our phones during church services (1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:18-20; Habakkuk 2:20; Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 21:12,13). The Lord promised the children of Israel a lot of blessings if they obeyed His commandments. One, they would enjoy abundance of the fruits of the earth. “Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:4). Although the ground was cursed after the fall of man (Genesis 3:17; 5:29), those who are obedient to the word of God would still have fruitful and bountiful harvest. Two, unlimited and constant supply: “And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new” (Leviticus 26:5,10). It implies that the storehouse of a believer shall not run dry; he or she will have more than enough (Psalm 23:1; Joel 2:26). Three, peace and divine protection. “And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land” (Leviticus 26:6). The children of Israel could testify of the fulfilment of God’s promise of peace and protection over them throughout their stay in the wilderness. God is faithful to His words and believers are also enjoined to be faithful in order to enjoy divine security (Leviticus 25:18,19b; Psalms 23:4; 91:10-12). Four, victory in wars at home and abroad. “And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword” (Leviticus 26:7,8). The children of Israel were assured of winning their battles as the Lord promised to fight for them. This was fulfilled in different battles they fought in later years (Numbers 21:33-35; Joshua 6:2,20,21; 1 Samuel 7:10). Believers need not fear the battles of life confronting them as the Lord has promised to fight for them and defeat their enemies (Exodus 23:22). Five, the increase of their people: “For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you (Leviticus 26:9). The nation of Israel was a small nation when they were in Egypt, but God multiplied them (Genesis 47:27: 48:4). He has promised His children fruitfulness and every child of God is free to enjoy it (Deuteronomy 6:3; 7:13: Job 8:7). Six, the favor and presence of God: “And I will set my tabernacle among you: my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:11,12). The presence of God was with the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness; and as a chosen people, they also enjoyed His favor (Exodus 3:21;: Deuteronomy 31:6). The presence of God is always with His children (Haggai 1:13; Matthew 28:20). Seven, deliverance from bondage: “I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright” (Leviticus 26:13). The children of Israel suffered in the hand of their bond master in the land of Egypt for about 430 years, but God came to their rescue and delivered them. Our God is merciful and He will not allow His children to remain in bondage or oppression of any kind. He is our Refuge and Fortress.
2. CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
Leviticus 26:14-39; . Deuteronomy 28:15,62-64; Acts 7:39-43; Romans 2:8-13; 1 Samuel 15:19-23
God hates disobedience. Those who refuse or fail to keep to His word will not go unpunished. God said, “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it” (Leviticus 26:14-16). Just as He pronounced blessings on the obedient, God also pronounced curses on the disobedient. When God brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, He made a covenant with them; that He would bring them into the Promised Land, but they must serve Him in holiness. Unfortunately, many of the children of Israel who left Egypt and saw all the wonders of God, broke this covenant and they were punished by God (Deuteronomy 4:23,24; Numbers 3:4; 11:4-6,33; 14:26-35; 21:5,6). God warned that if they failed to hearken to Him, He would appoint over them terror, consumption and the burning ague. He also said He would set His face against them, and they would be slain before their enemies. This shows that there is no unconditional security in the kingdom of God (1 Samuel 2:30; 2 Chronicles 15:2). Those who were disobedient to God among the children of Israel all suffered one punishment or the other. The word of God has not changed; God punishes sin at all times. Though the punishment may appear slow in coming, it will certainly come. The Bible says, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21). God had earlier promised them security and protection from their enemies, but disobedience to His word would force Him to remove His divine shield over them. The fruitfulness that He promised them would be taken away and unfruitfulness would take over. Destruction and pestilence will come from the Lord to them, not from the enemy. Our God is a consuming fire and is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). We are only saved from our enemies when we are faithful to Him. There are a number of people in the Bible who sinned against God and thereby incurred His wrath: Cain (Genesis 4:9-13), Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26). Nadab and
Abihu (Leviticus 10:1,2). Miriam (Numbers 12:1-10), Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:31-
33). Achan (Joshua 7:1,24-26), Sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12-17,4:11). Saul (1 Samuel 13:13; 15:911), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:21,25-27), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10).
3. CONDITIONS FOR RESTORATION
Leviticus 26:40-46; Joshua 24:14-16,23; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 18:8; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Joel 2:1214; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:19; 17:30; Revelation 2:5,16
God is merciful unto all those who seek His face in repentance. It is only when we fulfil the condition necessary for restoration that we would be restored (2 Chronicles 7:13,14). There is need for those who have gone astray to humble themselves, seek the face of the Lord in repentance and turn away from their wicked ways; then the Lord will forgive and heal their land. Repentance from sin is the major condition for restoration (1saiah 55:6,7; Jonah 3:8 10). “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked unto me; Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land” (Leviticus 26:40,42). It takes humility and a contrite heart to repent. The psalmist said, “…a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). When a sinner comes to God in humility and with a repentant heart, God will forgive his sins (1 John l:9). He will not cast out anyone who sincerely comes to Him for forgiveness because He is “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Questions For Review:
- Why was the warning against idolatrous practices necessary at this stage in the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land?
- In what ways can believers show reverence for God’s house?
- Highlight the blessings that follow those who are obedient to God’s command.
- What were the conditions God gave the Israelites for entering into the Promised Land?
- What are the consequences of disobedience to the commandments of God?
- Mention some characters in the Bible who sinned against God and incurred His wrath.
- What should be the attitude of those who have backslidden from the faith, if they want God to accept them back?