In Deuteronomy, Moses put half of the people of Israel on one mountain slope (the mount of Gerizim) and half on the mount of Ebal and then proceeded to spell out to the people what God expected of them. Moses told them that if they obeyed the commands of God, there would be many blessings but if they did not, there would be many curses. We know what happened to the children of Israel but I believe that curse/blessing message holds true for our nation as well... and there are quite a number of parallels.
Here are the types of behaviours that would bring a curse upon the people:
- Making a carved or molded image
- Treating one's parents with contempt
- Moving a neighbour's landmark
- Making the blind to wander off the road
- Perverting justice due to the stranger, fatherless and widow
- Committing incest
- Committing bestiality
- Attacking one's neighbour in secret
- Taking bribes
- Not confirming the words of the law
Our nation is guilty of all of these.
We as a nation have created many idols, from cars to computers there are a number of things that have far too much importance in some people's lives. Respect for parents has all but disappeared. Cheating others out of property is on the increase. Cruelty to the less fortunate is horrifically bad. Corruption of justice is rampant... and so on.
Here are the specific curses for committing those things mentioned above:
- Food shall become more difficult to obtain
- Families will produce fewer children and livestock will become less productive
- Military defeat
- Confusion
- Disease
- Drought and Floods
- Loss of personal property
This sounds very much like the nation's current situation and deservedly so. Fortunately blessings in all the same categories are available if we will simply turn from following our own way to following the way of Elohim. If we follow Him with all of our heart, mind and strength then there will be blessings on our tables, in our families, and in our country.
Which mountain are you on?
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