The second topic brought up just 9 verses later in Deuteronomy 7, is the promise God gave to Abraham when He first declared him a nation. If my reader remembers, back in Genesis God told Abraham that anyone who blesses him will be blessed and anyone who curses him would be cursed. Here in Deuteronomy 7, God reaffirms this to the now several million strong nation of Israel before they go in to take their promised land:
Deuteronomy 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
This is preceded by God saying that IF and note that IF, Israel agrees to and actively obeys all that God has commanded them, blessings would follow and verse 15 would be an integral part of that.
It is interesting to scan history down through the centuries of time and see God carrying out this promise! Even up to present day, nations that insist on hating and despising Israel or making her life difficult will occasionally talk of catastrophes both natural and manmade, especially those of weather-related incidents as being of “Biblical proportions”! This decree of God’s is not redacted in the New Testament, but when one reads the book of Revelation and other prophecies, it is clear this promise is carried out right through to the end of time! God’s promises are forever, but they are contingent on mankind’s obedience. In this regard, they are not so much a promise, as a byproduct of obedience and walking in God’s ways.
If I tell you, “If you water this plant every week, I promise you it will grow and produce beautiful flowers. But if you do not water this plant as I have instructed, no flowers will be produced and the plant will die”, how would you respond? Would you say that just owning the plant means I should ensure it flowers for you? Would you get upset with me for not following through on my promise if you only water it once a month and expect it to flower and it doesn’t? Unfortunately, this is not only how much of Israel over the years tried to take advantage of God, but it is most decidedly how the modern Church tries to take advantage of God as well. There is a reason John 15 places such emphasis on showing God we love Him by being obedient to His commands! Failure to obey Gods commands results in obedience’s byproducts not coming to fruition. The plant won’t flower if it isn’t looked after. It’s just the way of the laws of nature. The blessings of God can’t come upon someone trying to do as little as possible and still claim to be obedient. The laws of the Kingdom of God work much the same way the laws of nature do, but most modern Christians want the flowers without watering the plant!
That however, is a side-trail, but a necessary one as we look at the physical and spiritual nature of how God said He would respond to those who bless or curse the nation of Israel. Every action has a corresponding result. That result is not necessarily a reaction, nor is it necessarily an equal and opposite reaction as some have famously tried to quote. Yet every action, positive or negative will reap what is sown. Let’s look at some verses along this line:
Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Proverbs 22:8-9 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
Hosea 10:12-13 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
John 4:34-38 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Galatians 6:3-10 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
The actions being sown by those who despise and mistreat Israel set into action the corresponding outcome of judgement from God in some fashion, many times reminiscent of how God dealt with Pharoah in Egypt.
