Blessings or Maledictions- There Is a Choice!
Blessings or Maledictions- Examples for Us Today.
How can we receive divine blessings, not Maledictions?
How could the Israelites have avoided Maledictions?
Pronouncement of Blessings and Maledictions.
divine Maledictions became necessary.
They were warned:“[ Maledictions] must continue on you
the curses, or Maledictions, a response was called for.
After each of the Maledictions, the instruction was given:“
the painful consequences of disobedience are set forth as Maledictions.
we can receive God's blessings and can avoid divine Maledictions.
What was to determine whether the Israelites received blessings or Maledictions?
What instructions regarding blessings and Maledictions were carried out by Joshua?
Put another way,
we can receive God's blessings and can avoid divine Maledictions.
Similarly, it was said of Maledictions:“ All these Maledictions must also come upon you
Some may think that the blessings and Maledictions pronounced upon ancient Israel have little
At Deuteronomy 28: 15- 68, the painful consequences of disobedience are set forth as Maledictions.
After each of the Maledictions, the instruction was given:“ And all the people must say,‘ Amen!'”.
But if they did not keep listening to him, Maledictions would just as surely overtake them.
Similarly, it was said of Maledictions:“ All these Maledictions must also come upon you and overtake you.”.
If you had been an Israelite of ancient times,
would you have been‘ overtaken' by blessings or by Maledictions?
For the most part, they failed miserably, so that they suffered the Maledictions foretold at Deuteronomy 28: 15- 68.
Often, the people of Israel reaped the blistering results of Maledictions because they chose to engage in false worship.
Later, when Joshua read to the nation the promised blessings and the curses, or Maledictions, a response was called for.
Before the basic tenets of that agreement were etched in stone by the‘ finger of God,' though,
divine Maledictions became necessary.
But if they did not keep listening to him, Maledictions would just as surely overtake them.
- Deuteronomy 8: 10- 14; 26: 18; 28: 2,
Some may think that the blessings and Maledictions pronounced upon ancient Israel have little meaning for those facing the conclusion of this system
of things. However, that is not so.
They were warned:“[ Maledictions] must continue on you
and your offspring as a sign and a portent to time indefinite, due to the fact that you did not serve Jehovah your God with rejoicing and joy of heart for the abundance of everything.