How can we avoid the curses described in Deuteronomy 28 by obeying God? Setting the Scene: Blessings and Curses Deuteronomy 28 paints two vivid pictures: the blessings that follow obedience and the curses that follow disobedience. Verse 27 highlights one of the more frightening judgments: “The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, scabs, and itch from which you cannot be cured”. God’s warning is clear—walk in His ways and enjoy His favor; turn aside, and experience the consequences. What Deuteronomy 28:27 Teaches • The curses are personal: they affect health, livelihood, family, and nation. • They come directly from “the LORD,” underscoring His active role in discipline. • They are unavoidable apart from repentance—“from which you cannot be cured” signals the futility of human solutions without divine help. Obedience as Our Shield Scripture consistently links obedience to protection: • Exodus 15:26—“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God… I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians.” • Psalm 91:1, 3—“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High… He will deliver you from the deadly pestilence.” • James 1:25—“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law… and continues in it… they will be blessed in what they do.” Practical Steps to Walk in Obedience 1. Know God’s Word • Daily reading plans (Psalm 1:2). • Memorize key passages for situations you face (Psalm 119:11). 2. Submit the Heart • Begin each day by yielding plans and desires to God (Proverbs 3:5–6). 3. Practice Immediate Obedience • Respond to conviction promptly—delayed obedience often becomes disobedience (John 14:23). 4. Guard Against Idolatry • Identify anything that competes with God’s supremacy: career, entertainment, relationships (1 John 5:21). 5. Stay in Fellowship • Gather regularly with believers for encouragement and accountability (Hebrews 10:24–25). 6. Cultivate a Lifestyle of Repentance • Confess sin quickly, trusting God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). 7. Live by the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Promises That Strengthen Our Resolve • Deuteronomy 30:9—“The LORD your God will again delight in you and make you prosper.” • Isaiah 1:19—“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.” • John 10:10—“I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” Grace and the Gospel Connection Obedience is not a ladder by which we climb to earn God’s favor; it is the fruit of already being loved and redeemed in Christ. Galatians 3:13 assures us, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” He bore the penalties so that we might walk in freedom. Our obedience, therefore, is grateful response, not grim duty. Conclusion: Choose Life The curses of Deuteronomy 28—including the painful afflictions of verse 27—serve as sober reminders of sin’s cost. God, in His mercy, shows the path of avoidance: hear His voice, embrace His commands, and follow wholeheartedly. Behind every command stands a loving Father eager to bless, protect, and satisfy His children who choose obedience. |
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