Today’s reading really opens the eyes to see how God views sin. It also reveals its effects—they’re devastating! As wonderful as God’s blessings are, sin stands in contrast to all that is wonderful. In one sense, how good of God to teach us to reverence Him and fear sin!
Notice how Moses describes in Deuteronomy 28:20-42 the effect of Israel’s sin, should they choose to turn from God: confusion, frustration in everything, affliction, stricken, disaster, destruction, defeat, groping around, oppressed, robbed continually, suffering, harsh treatment, and tragedy. These are just a few of the terms! Notice verses 47-48…
If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47–48, NLT)
Wow! Sin is not a light thing to God, regardless of the Testament you are reading in the Bible! Yes, God is love! Yes, God is also Holy! He will not overlook sin, and no one will get away with it. In fact, it’s as though God anticipated this with Israel, and through Moses, He says…
“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin! (Deuteronomy 29:19, NLT)
Sadly, Israel did fail, and the curses in God’s covenant with them did come to pass as God said they would.
What does all of this mean to us as believers? While the effects of sin are still just as real today as they have ever been, notice the good news of the Apostle John.
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1 John 2:1–2, NLT)
What a breath of fresh air in a world stifled by sin! There is a remedy! There is a balm for the wounded! There is Jesus! The One who became a curse for us. The cross! What unspeakable suffering Jesus endured as our sacrifice. His sacrifice satisfies the judgment of God for sin!
As we think about this, what should our response be? Should we continue in sin, suffering its effects in our lives? Or should we love God and choose obedience to Him? Let us love the one who loves us! Rejoice in His forgiveness, and enjoy loving God!
If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:4–6, NLT)
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Deuteronomy 28:1-29:29.