Time marches on, and now we enter our third month together. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
Today we read Deuteronomy chapters 26-28.
Joy not sorrow
The opening section of chapter 26 is interesting. Verse 14 reads, “I have eaten none of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead “. (NIV)
I had to look this one up in the commentaries, and Benson says that the Israelites could not eat anything consecrated to God while in mourning. This stems from the custom the Egyptians had of offering some of their first fruits to the idol Isis. (Benson’s Commentaries)
He says it may have just meant they were not sorrowful about having to give up so much of their prized possession. The first fruits were the best they had. To give them up to the poor may not have sat well with them.
Instead, these verses say they did as the Lord commanded and ate them cheerfully. The Lord wants us to have His best, His One and Only Son, Jesus. He wants us to enjoy with gratitude but also with joy. We must recognize that no one killed Jesus against his will. He died for us, so that we could live for Him.
Do not defile yourself
There were other idolaters who would take a portion of the first fruits to offer it to idols. Jesus is God’s first fruit. (see 1 Cor. 15:20) The firstborn of creation. It is imperative that we are worthy recipients of His sacrifice. If we eat unworthily, we bring upon ourselves condemnation. (see 1 Cor 11:27-29).
Moses commands them to avoid this to remain clean.
Then he says they must not offer this food to the dead. This was another thing the Gentiles of that time did. They offered part of the firstfruits to the dead idols.
It may have also just been alluding to the Jews, who would send food, like a wake, to the relatives of the dead at the funeral.
In times of distress, when someone suffers the loss of a love one, it is still customary to bring them food. Not for the dead, but to help keep the living going while they struggle through grief.
Separate the good from the bad
We need to separate our blessings from our curses. The Israelites were told to create an altar of stones, with the Ten Commandments written upon them on Mt. Ebal. This was where they would sacrifice fellowship offerings.
This is where they would offer their sacrifices. They were to eat these sacrifices together, in fellowship, with joy.
Just as a parent wants to see their children happy. God wants us to rejoice in Him. (see 1 Thes 5:16, Phil 4:4).
The Levites were to curse the people from Mt. Ebal. Others were to go up to Mt. Gerizim and there bless the people.
We see an entire list of curses and blessings. They all boil down to one thing: when we follow the Lord’s commandments, we will receive blessings. I have been so blessed in the twenty-seven years I have been a believer. Not every day was great, but overall, God has gotten me through every trial and provided for every need I have.
Before, when I was an atheist running from God, in tragedy, I could find no comfort; my wants found no hope; sin was my refuge, because I didn’t know what else there was. (See Rom 6:20-22)
These chapters go through many curses, and the people say, Amen.
Curse of sin
Then they hear from the other mountain all the blessings of obedience. What is strange is that they are silent during the blessings. I would think there would be more celebration of these.
Knowing the conditions of our hearts, it is hard to rejoice. We know how often we fail God. We all deserve the wrath we hear mentioned in chapter 27. So much so they continue to mention more curses to end chapter 28.
Life is hard because we don’t obey God the way He asks. If we did, life could be so much greater.
I’m not talking about a prosperity gospel. Any true gospel has to account for our sinfulness.
When we move from sin to obedience, we will still have troubles. But when you face any challenge with God, He assures you of victory.
I challenge you to read those last two chapters again and think of all the ways we are being cursed today. Realize those curses reflect our ongoing love for all the idols we have made for ourselves.
My prayer is not that God will bless me with more blessings. Not that He will remove more curses. He is all I need and the only reward worthy of having. Therefore, my prayer is that I would be more obedient. That He would bless me with obedience to Him.
