Conditional Blessings

Verse 3 starts with the big word “If”. If you walk in my statutes and keep my commandments and do them, followed by the first word in verse 4 “Then”. These two words constitute a condition for the following blessing. 

1. God promises to bless their crops thus providing all their needs. The yield from the crops will give them and their flocks plenty to eat. The flocks and herds will provide clothing and shelter from wool and the leather to make tents.

2. God also will give them peace and safety from both beast and enemies. This is freedom from fear. Knowing that God has kept life threatening enemies at bay brings emotional security as well as physical.

3. God will prosper them as a nation. Making them fruitful and multiplying them is the promise of a growing nation. His promise to establish his covenant refers back to the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Bless those that bless you, curse those that curse you, make you like the stars in the heavens, innumerable. 

4. Most important God will be with them. He will set his tabernacle among them and walk among them

To give credibility to his promises, as if God needs to, he reminds them of what he has already done in bringing them out of Egypt. 

Unconditional Love

It may seem wrong to consider all the punishments for disobedience unconditional love, but let’s follow through with God’s goal. We’re not going to go through all the punishments like we did the blessings. However, take note of the stages. These stages each begin with”If ye will not” they are in verse 14, 18, 23, and 27. They are followed with God saying I will do thus and so. Take notice that each round of punishments get more severe. God through this is trying to get their attention for a reason. He loves them so unconditionally that regardless of their sin which separates them from him he wants them back. The final big “IF” if they confess their iniquity, humble their hearts and accept their punishments he will remember his covenants. In re-establishing his covenants with them they will again be in communion with him and realize all the blessings of having him among them.

As we consider that God is consistent in all his dealings with mankind, where do we put ourselves in this equation? How many times have we strayed from God enough to experience a loss of peace? And when we seek God out in prayer asking for forgiveness, how many times has he quickly forgiven and draws us close to him? Did he not establish his credibility on the cross with his arms open wide?

God’s blessings on your day!  

Bluffton North Ministry Group