How can obedience to God prevent the curses described in Deuteronomy 28:35? Setting the Scene • Deuteronomy 28 unfolds a covenant: blessing for obedience (vv. 1-14) and curse for rebellion (vv. 15-68). • Verse 35 sits in the middle of the curse section: “The LORD will afflict you with a severe boil on the knees and legs from which you cannot be cured, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.” Why a Physical Affliction? • In ancient Israel the body often mirrored the spiritual state of the nation (cf. Deuteronomy 7:15; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). • The incurable boils symbolize complete breakdown—nothing untouched by sin’s consequences. The Protective Power of Obedience • Deuteronomy 28:1-2: “If you fully obey… all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.” • Exodus 15:26 echoes the same safeguard: “If you diligently listen… I will put none of the diseases on you…” • Obedience places a person under God’s promised protection; disobedience removes that hedge (Isaiah 1:19-20). Key Heart-Level Principles 1. Reverence for God’s Word • Treat His commands as absolute truth (Psalm 19:7-11). 2. Whole-life allegiance • Love Him “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). 3. Prompt repentance • Turning quickly when sin is exposed keeps judgment at bay (Proverbs 28:13). Practical Steps That Foster Obedience Today • Daily immersion in Scripture—letting God’s voice set the agenda (Joshua 1:8). • Consistent confession of sin—keeping short accounts (1 John 1:9). • Accountability in the faith community—“iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). • Stewardship of the body—honoring God with purity and self-control (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Dependence on the Spirit—He empowers obedience that our flesh cannot sustain (Galatians 5:16). Christ and the Curse • Galatians 3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.” • While the Mosaic curses highlight the gravity of sin, Christ’s atoning work secures ultimate freedom for believers. • Obedience now flows from grateful love, not fear of condemnation (John 14:23; Romans 8:1-4). Living in the Blessing • Remain anchored in covenant faithfulness—God’s moral order has not shifted. • Trust the finished work of Christ—He bore our curse yet calls us to holy living. • Walk daily in Spirit-enabled obedience, and the calamities reserved for rebellion lose their claim. |
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