Introduction
The consequences for Israel of obeying or disobeying God.
Questions
1. What three things will God do if they keep his commands?
v 4 ... I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
v 6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid. ...
v 9 I will have respect for you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.
2. If they will not do God’s commandments, and will not change when he sends plagues upon them, what will be their ultimate punishment?
v 33 I will scatter you amongst the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you. Your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.
3. Why does God say he will not utterly destroy them?
v 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.’ ”
Summary Points
- v 1 and 2 A reminder that no idols are to be made and the Sabbath is to be kept
- v 3 to 13 Blessings to be enjoyed if the nation is obedient to God:
- v 3 to 5 good harvests
- v 6 to 8 peace and security
- v 9 to 13 increase in numbers and be God's people
- v 14 to 39 Punishments to come on the nation for disobedience:
- v 14 to 17 disease, no harvests or stolen harvests and defeat by enemies
- v 18 to 22 problems will increase if they continue to disobey
- v 23 to 26 problems will intensify more if they still disobey
- v 27 to 39 if they still disobey, famine will be so severe they will eat their own children, their cities will be rubble and they will be scattered throughout the world
- v 40 to 43 God will remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob if they turn back to him
v 44 to 46 Despite all the punishment that God will inflict on them, he will not totally destroy them