Not Because I 'Can't,' But Because I 'Won't'

“But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses.  I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today. [Deuteronomy 29.14-15]

Lest anyone think the Ten Commandments and all the Law was just for the Israelites contemporary to the time of Moses, these words stand as a permanent memorial otherwise.

First of all, this was not just about the Ten Commandments and the Law.  The covenant mentioned here also clearly defined the good things set in motion due to obedience as well as the bad things set in motion due to disobedience.  There were resultant blessings and curses that Moses indicated here were for future generations as well (and this included foreigners too...).

This is all well and good except that before his death, Moses just flat out told the people they would rebel and turn their backs on God.  (On a side note, that must have been severely depressing for Moses!)  Even with the clear directives given and the blessings awarded for adherence to them, the people were unwilling to maintain the level of obedience necessary to qualify for God's promised blessings for obedience.

You know, I've always thought mankind is incapable of obedience to God.  But if that were the case, and if God is as good as He is made out to be, why would He make all these demands of people who were incapable of obedience?  That would make God sinister - even sadistic and cruel.  The fact is, people choose to disobey.  The more I read the Old Testament, the more I realize that people were and are indeed stubborn and rebellious just as God said.  It is just sad.

But what is even more sad is that God made obedience easier.  As we have seen, the covenant involved almost endless rules and regulations - certainly a burden.  But God, in contemporary terms, offered mankind a "bundle" in Jesus Christ.  All the blessings and curses were in Him - all of life or death - and the only choice then left for man to make is to simply accept or reject Him.  Acceptance yields infinitely all the blessings of God, and rejection yields infinitely all the curses.  How simply is that?

And yet, people still choose to disobey and reject all the obedience and goodness in Jesus the Messiah.  All the while, again, we have the ability to do the right thing, or else the option would not be provided, but most simply are unwilling to yield.  Some things just don't change.

Father, I think I've felt sorry for myself long enough (that I am incapable of doing what is right).  You have given me faith - and that is all that is required to please You through Jesus - and yet I still fail, not because I 'can't, but because I 'won't.'  I want to take full responsibility for this - I am so full of rebellion - please forgive me - see me through Jesus as I see You through Him.