Deuteronomy 28 DISOBEDIENCE IS NO JOKE To many people in this generation, to disobey those in authority doesn't elicit much more than a "Tsk, tsk," and the command is repeated until the disobedient person finally gets his own way. This can be with children in a family who seek from an early age to take control of the family by wanting (and often getting) what they want without consequences. In assemblies where practices have had a biblical basis since the beginning or the testimony, changes are being made in spite of what the elders may want, to accommodate to the "changing times" and the desire to mix God's things and the world. The pressure is applied by saying, "If this doesn't happen soon, we are leaving." Some seem to think the scriptures do not mean what they say, "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." In society when a law-breaker is caught, even though all the evidence points to his guilt, a person will almost always plead, "Not guilty." Even judges expect that to be the answer they get when they ask how a person pleads.
To be fair to people, we need to let them know there are consequences to their disobedience. A person's reputation is being formed right from childhood. God blesses those who obey Him and act upon His word appropriately when it is given. But there are very serious consequences to disobedience. They may not all be faced now, but payday is coming. God is able to make possible to us that which we could never do for ourselves. Obedience keeps a person in a right relationship with God. It is His delight to guide His children in paths of righteousness and give from His own fullness that which will be for our lasting good. For His people to commit themselves to do His will, is a choice we make and from the storehouse of His goodness, He enables is to live day after day to His honor and glory, and to our great benefit.
On the other hand, the same One who blesses because of obedience, can withhold blessing and either allow the enemies of the children of God to have their way with us, or move the forces of nature to do that which is out of the ordinary to bring us to a place where we will stop and repent, and turn again to God. To the children of Israel, God gave warnings through Moses of the severe consequences of disobeying His will and commands. The curses of disobedience would come upon them in every part of their physical, human life. Crops would fail, the animals wouldn't produce useful offspring. Drought and various kinds of plagues would come and their whole livelihood would be affected.
The difficulties caused by disobedience would even come into national life and the nation would be overcome and defeated by their enemies. There would be no power in them to avoid slavery and their reputation among nations as a powerful nation would be lost, and they would be known as a helpless, defenseless nation. The social disarray would affect every part of their community life and would lead to moral decay, family disintegration and mental pressures that would drive them mad. All of this would go even further into defeat, exile and dispersion among the nations until they would hardly be recognized as an identifiable people. All of this would happen because of disobedience to God's commands.
We are not immune from a similar result in our day. The unique features of a scripturally gathered assembly that goes by the word of God in Gospel preaching, the teaching and practice of scriptural truth, can be ignored and eventually lost entirely. When that happens, assimilation into the culture of counterfeit Christianity will take place. The only strength we have is the promise of the Lord to be with us when we preach the Gospel biblically, make disciples as He told us to, baptize them in the way He instructed and teach them to do what God says. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One with "all power in heaven and in earth." If or when we fail in carrying out this mandate, we will cease to be a body of believers where God can dwell among His people. Letters to the seven churches of Asia are given to us to read and learn from. Hopefully we will never be a church where the Lord is standing outside knocking and waiting for even one man to open the door so He can come in. The Lord Jesus knows what is going on in each assembly and He also knows each person who is in the assembly. It is foolish for us to change what He has told us to do to suit Christendom around us. It is wise for us to constantly keep before us the One who has called us, and what He has called us to do.
This chapter in Deuteronomy is given to us as a warning. The things that happened to them were "ensamples: and are written for our admonition," so we can learn from the things the Israelites did wrong, and avoid doing them ourselves. Examples of failures are given as lessons to us so that we do not repeat them. Our weakness is real and our inability cannot be ignored. But we need to remember that God can use "the weak things to confound the mighty." It is a wise nation, assembly and family that is committed without reservation to do what we know is God's will, and not turn away from the commands of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 28:10, 23. “And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee… And the heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.”
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. How will they know that I am real – Not a fake, not a sham, not a fraud. There has to be a way to reveal – That the words I preach are from God. God Himself said He will take care of this – When I keep the commands that He gives. My role is to not walk my way but His – And He has promised His Word to bless.
But if I want and choose my own way – Things will get serious after that. The work I seek to do will surely fail – And the heavens overhead will be like brass. No matter how hard to sow I try – Nothing will result but futile work. The ground I seek to plant will be so dry – No heavenly rain will fall upon the earth.
May I never think I am in control – The Lord alone can bless and also curse. No efforts I put forth can save a soul – It is the Spirit and the Word that gives new birth. Far be it from me to think I can – Do any more than faithfully sow the seed. Life springs from a once dry and barren land – When God establishes His Word and meets the need.
“I never want to be found at that awful distance Father, where there is brass overhead and the rain is powder and dust. Keep me, O God of my salvation, in the condition of soul where I can get well soaked with the life-giving rain of the Word of God. The seed of the Gospel message is so perfect, that I seek to use it with care and prayer. I know the consequences are serious if I get cocky or self- important, thinking I have some power or authority to make it spring forth and grow. This week coming, is a new series of Gospel meetings, Father, and I am here seeking assurance that Thou will give me the right words to say in the right way so the heavenly rain will cause the seed to spring forth in new life. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”