Gail Landgraf posted: " Photo by Misha Voguel on Pexels.com Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy begins on a happy note. It is naming all of the many blessings that will come to God's people if they obey Him in the new nation called Israel. The first blessing is a great one! "
It is naming all of the many blessings that will come to God's people if they obey Him in the new nation called Israel.
The first blessing is a great one!
I WILL SET YOU HIGH ABOVE THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH
Perhaps this blessing mentioned first is one that even today's People of God should take very seriously; because God says if you fully obey Him and carefully follow his commands; He will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
That is huge!
Let's stop for a moment and ponder when Satan took Jesus from fasting in the wilderness and sat him up on a pinnacle of the Temple, far above the earth on a high mountain, and promised him all of the Kingdoms below him if he would only bow down and worship him.
IF YOU ONLY OBEY ME
Do you think Jesus was familiar with this passage in Deuteronomy where God promises to set Israel above all nations of the earth if they would only obey Him?
Satan was tempting Jesus with God's very own words to the nation that He had chosen and loved so much.
Only Satan knew that God alone owned all of those nations. That old Devil KNEW that he would never be allowed full control of them.
He lied.
Has anyone ever lied to you in order to gain power over you?
So many power-hungry people lie in order to gain control of others. Even top governmental officials and world experts do this from time to time.
Their selfish goals are all they can ever see.
YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD
Jesus's answering words were interesting. We can read them for ourselves in Matthew 4:11; Then Jesus said to him,"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Jesus knew that God owned and controlled all of those kingdoms that Satan was tempting him with. He knew those facts for many reasons; one reason being because He had diligently studied God's Word.
This very verse we study today from Deuteronomy was in the Torah that Jesus studied from the time he could walk and talk as a young boy. He knew this fact as The Son of God; and He knew this fact from the perspective of a human man.
He KNEW that Deuteronomy taught that if you were obedient to God, He would bless you by setting you high above all the nations of the earth.
OBEDIENT PEOPLE BRING ABOUT BLESSED NATIONS
So; Jesus boldly puts Satan into his place and reminds him that we are only to worship God.
What if Jesus had not hidden the words of Torah deep inside his heart?
Just imagine what it would have been like if he had also desired to be higher than God; like Satan did; or even like these officials of today that keep tying to tempt us into doing something that we know God doesn't want us to do with our own bodies?
This was why God called these temptations a test.
ALL NATIONS ARE TESTED
Have you ever been tested?
Where would we be today when it comes to eternal life if our Savior had not passed this test?
So many just want to take the easy way; He could have made that choice.
Some things SOUND easier than others; but in the end, nothing is ever what it seems.
Good and lasting blessings require true obedience; and that hardly ever means taking the easy way.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED
Putting a mask on every time you go outside in the public seems easy. It gives a false illusion of safety; but it really does not make things safe.
Christians can't take the easy path and expect to know God's blessings. That would be like putting on a mask that you know doesn't really work.
Getting a shot in the arm might feel like a positive action that is going to solve all of your problems; but does it really?
You know it only makes your immunity a bit stronger and even that wears off in time.
The only true way to heal a virus is for God to send healing.
OBEDIENCE BRINGS HEALING TO NATIONS
He does that when we decide to be obedient. God has promised to bless us if we only obey Him.
Thank God; Jesus was not tempted as so many of mankind are tempted today; to make things all about their way or the highway.
No.
Jesus humbly obeyed God.
Obedience is about pleasing God; not pleasing ourselves.
That is always the answer; to every situation.
GOD NEVER MANDATES; WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE
Do you need to take this shot that is being mandated to you?
The only answer I can correctly give you is that you should obey God.
No matter what you do; if you base your decision on the fact that this is the course you feel God would have you to take; you will be safe.
Even if you decide not to take the shot and you catch the virus and die (highly unlikely by statistics); you will know in eternity that you did what God was leading you to do.
GOD'S WAY IS TO ALLOW FREEDOM
If you feel God is strongly urging you to take the shot; and you do, then you will be able to lay your head on your pillow at night and not worry about any after-effects. The real after-effects would come if you disobeyed God's calling on your life.
Like God was telling Israel; You should simply be obedient.
And what does God say about that?
He will place your nation high above all nations!
For the future this would mean that you might have a lot of responsibility as well as abundant blessings in the world to come; so rest easy and keep moving in the right direction.
OBEDIENCE BRINGS A NATION TO ABUNDANT FREEDOM
Wouldn't that be such a blessing; to have your nation to be above all nations?
There would be no more fear of war, and no more fear of not enough resources. You would be so prosperous and you would always have food and shelter and clothes; and so would all of those around you. No one would lack.
All would be blessed!
Nothing hard would ever again be required on our part; just the ability to do in our days whatever God has ordained should be done; the things that make for a happy, full and good life anyway.
Who could mess this up?
I'm sure we will get to that part of the story eventually; but for now let's stop right here in the midst of all of these blessings for obedience and savor each one slowly.
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