Blessings and Curses

Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26 mirrors Deuteronomy 28 in describing blessings and curses relative to obedience and disobedience respectively.

One thing we can rely on from both these chapters in the Bible is that we have two reliable sources from which to discern whether our own circumstances are blessings or curses. We can compare the conditions of our lives against the lists of blessings or curses to see if what we are experiencing falls under the categorization of one or the other. With this information, we can then conclude how we might choose to respond.

First and foremost, we simply must remain mindful of something Paul told the Church in Galatia:

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]

With Paul's words to the Galatians in mind, we know that, because of God's love for the world (John 3.16), it is 100% His intention that no one live under the curses upon disobedience. God's love provided an escape from the curses upon our wrongdoing.

Now, for the elephant in the room, why do God's people still suffer curses?

And herein lies the catalyst for a plethora of doctrines that are awkwardly inconsistent with the very Bible they claim to explain...

To be sure, the Bible is not indeterminate about the source of curses. Curses exist because of sin. Because man was incapable of the level of obedience required to transcend curses and live in blessings, God provided a 'different' obedience, the obedience of faith in Jesus, to assure man of the potential to live curse-free, lives of blessing. But the obedience of faith is STILL obedience! So, although the obedience to rules and laws is no longer required, the obedience to believe in Jesus still is. However, the effect of disobedience remains the same - curses.

So, here's the tricky part, right? No, wrong. The contrast between blessings and curses is clear - God made it clear so we would have no doubt about where we stand with Him. The tricky part is figuring our how we justify the obvious curses in and on our lives and still maintain that we are "right with God."

The obvious response to curses is clear: repentance. And, here is where "tricky" gets downright nasty! When the Bible says curses are the evidence of sin but we choose instead to believe they are not, we are at an impasse with God and His Word. The underlying factor in this denial is nothing short of the number one thing God hates: pride.

When man thinks he has been good enough or faithful enough to be blessed, even though the circumstance of curses say otherwise, he must consciously choose to believe the lie of Satan ("has God really said...?") proudly denying guilt, or, he must conclusively and humbly repent because curses and God's Word don't lie (regardless how innocent we may think ourselves to be). Whether the disobedience is a violation of a commandment or the failure to believe in Jesus, it remains disobedience and is punishable by curses.

Oh I know, I have painted myself and pretty much everyone else in a corner here... But, just because we are all indicted by curses, does that make us innocent? Let me ask it another way... Just because we are indicted by curses, does that make God and His Word wrong? The answer is as obvious as the Bible itself. It is a monumental swallowing of pride however for man to accept it AND RESPOND TO IT. Our only correct response to curses is repentance. Every time and all the time if necessary. God will not reject a humble and contrite spirit:

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. [Isaiah 57.15]

Even if you categorically reject what is said here, at least the next time you hear anyone promote so-called doctrines of suffering, you will at least think of the possibility of the need to repent...

Jesus said: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.47]

Father, help us to humble ourselves and pray and seek Your face. Help us to understand our circumstances in light of Your Word and not our man-made doctrines or, just as bad, 'natural causes.'