God’s Commandments: Blessings or Curses?

Good day to each and every one reading this column and do hope that God has blessed you and that you have thanked god for all the wonderful blessing that he provides each day and each breath that we take.

As we begin, please turn and take some time to read the following chapter in the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 28: 1-68 (KJV) The word command is used 5 times in this chapter and the word commanded once in verse 45.

Please turn to verse 45 which is two thirds of the way through of the chapter and read the following: Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed: because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee.

Folks, God is not asking but he is commanding the Israelite people to keep his commandments and statutes—This is not a request but a direct command.

So, how is this relevant to today? I think that you will agree in our world that we live in a very unstable world and that the Ten Commandments are just mere words. Think about this, we have lots and lots and laws, in fact laws for laws, but what about the Ten Commandments and God’s laws? Aren’t they good enough for man if we were to follow those laws? Would this not be a wonderful start? Is God’s law not the Divine Law?

Before I delve further, let’s establish the 1^st command God gave to Adam—Do you not agree that a command is a rule of action or can be a law of life in the following: Keep your finger in Deuteronomy and turn to Genesis 2: 16-17 (KJV)

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

As you read the above verses, God did not ask man to eat but commanded man not to each of this tree and said if you do then you will die—This is your choice or one could say, if you are obedient, you would receive continuous life & health and that’s a real blessing or if you disobey, you will die which is a curse.

Man took the course of the curse and sinned for sin is the transgression of the law and whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law—1 John 3:4.

We, as Christians, must obey God’s commandments out of love for Jesus—Turn to John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments & John 15:10 (KJV) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s Commandments, and abide in his love.

We have established that sin is the transgression of the law, that man was given the first command from God, disobeyed, and chose the curse and not the blessing of continuous life.

Now, back to Deuteronomy 28, and begin with verse 1 where God commanded the Israelites to observe and do all his commandments which he commanded this day. Look at verses 2-14 and see all the blessings they would receive if they observe and do all of God’s commandments. Twelve verses of blessings for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Turn to verse 15 where the people do not listen, and we see the word cursed in verses 16—19. As you read further, you see that God tells the Israelite people what, when, why and how the curses will them.

As you read this very important chapter, let’s use the USA as an example of the blessings and the curses:

Verse 3: People in the city and rural areas would be blessed

Verse 4: Plenty of Food, Good Food free of chemicals and pesticides, Good health for people

Verse 5: Economic growth and no food shortage

Verse 6: No crime, people would help each other

Verse 7: Enemies would be held at bay by God’s hand

Verse 8: Businesses & the Land would receive God’s blessings

Verse 9: The people would be established as his Holy People who keeps his commandments and walks in Gods ways.

Verse 10: The rest of the earth’s people would look upon God’s Holy People and be afraid of thee.

Verse 11: Great economic growth, plenty of food, wonderful health, no poverty, a residence to live, and clothes to wear and goods to buy and sell.

Verse 12: Plenty of rain for crop growth, working people would prosper and the economy would grow vastly, and the country would lend to other countries but not borrow thus eliminating debt.

Verse 13: All people of the world would want to live in this country as they would be the head and not the tail or the leader of all other nations. This would happen only if they observe and do all the commandments.

Beginning in verse 14 are the warnings and then the curses to which God gives us—As you read this in any part of the world, you will see that we, as a people, have broken God’s commands, thus negating the blessings and receiving the curses.

Here in the USA as one turns on the news, we hear of violent shootings in the city and in rural areas, crimes in our schools of vast proportions, taxes skyrocketing, poor people with no homes, contaminated food, natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, major hurricanes costing billions, excessive heat with no rain in certain parts of the country and excessive rain in others, evil government leaders, excessive debt, US armies fighting in multiple countries, fears of wars against major countries, atomic & chemical warfare used by third world countries and neighbor fighting against neighbor.

I urge you to read this chapter of Deuteronomy and I am sure that you will agree that is a perfect example of what happens when individuals or a people observe and follow God’s commands and when they do not.

In conclusion, Jesus said in John 14:15 (KJV) If you love me, keep my commandments—Do you love Jesus? He provided each of us with the commands and commandments in the Bible for our understanding and to receive his blessings.

Please take the time to read the Bible and wherever you see the word Command or Commandment, please take heed and do as he says. If you heed his commandments, then God will supply you with plenty of blessings in your life.

God never breaks his promise and he will always be good to his word—That you can take to the bank!

I hope you enjoyed this and look forward to your comments—May God Bless you each day.

Jeff