Deuteronomy 28:15-68 – Chose to obey God every moment

It is difficult to read Deuteronomy 28:15-68 without shuddering. It should petrify us to learn of the curses and consequences of walking in disobedience. The relentless wave of curses that would befall the people of Israel should they choose to disobey God seemed unending. Before one wave could end, another would loom nearby. In total, this passage describes five waves of curses that would befall the people of God who would not walk according to God’s instructions. Verses 20-26 describe the first wave; verses 27-35 the second; verses 36-26 the third; verses 47-57 the fourth wave; and finally verses 58-68 the fifth and final wave.

We saw what would happen to the people who chose to disobey God in the first wave of curses in verses 20-26. The next four waves would be just as terrible and relentless. We will not deal with them in detail. Suffice to say that Moses kept repeating and describing the negative experiences with mounting intensity. No area of their lives was left out of the curses. From the physical to the mental, from the social to the spiritual, every aspect was subjected to the curses. Whether it was their personal life, family life, social or national life, none was exempted from the curse. If it was not a physical illness of all sorts, it would be a mental derangement of all depth. Then they would see their wives snatched, property robbed, and their harvest taken from them by others. They would put in much effort with little or no yield. What they plan for themselves would be enjoyed by others. They would also be deprived of the luxury of even a simple life because they would be trampled upon by their enemies and taken into captivity. Negative upon negative would keep pouring in. It was apparent that the whole objective was to tell them that God was not to be trifled with. While God would love those who obey immeasurably, but the curses that would befall a person who spurns His love would be incalculable.

This long discourse on the curses of disobedience should goad us not to act and walk foolishly. Because Christ had redeemed us from the curse, we should desire to choose a life of obedience. When we can be blessed by living a life of obedience, why choose to inherit the consequences of walking in disobedience? We must be careful with our choices in life. Choose God and live. Choose His ways every day, every time, every moment. It is the wisest choice. There is no other way to receive His blessings!