The Blessing of the 10 Commandments: A Case in Point

In an earlier post, we reviewed the lifestyle of following the 10 Commandments and the blessings it produces based on Deuteronomy 26:16-19.  But God’s blessings go beyond human logic.  It’s not only that if you do this, then that will happen. While that is certainly true in the natural realm, when we pursue God’s commands, the spiritual results are compounded beyond what we can imagine.

Joshua is just one case in point that illustrates this concept of blessing.

Just after Moses finished reiterating all the commands to the Israelites, he appointed Joshua to take his place in leading the people into the Promised Land.  Then Moses died and the Lord began to guide Joshua as the leader of the Israelites. (Deut. 31:1-18)

Joshua has been to Canaan and back, he knows what giants lay ahead, the Jordan River crossing, the walls of Jericho, the kings, the armies, the numerous battles that will be required to possess the Land.  If I were Joshua, I’d be asking God how to outsmart the Canaanites, how to train up his warriors, what strategies our enemies were going to use against us.

But what instruction does God give him?  It’s in Joshua 1:6-8:

“Be strong, be bold; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.”

God instructs him to follow the Torah Moses taught him, meditate on it day and night and act according to everything written in it.  Then, God will take care of the rest – He’ll make the Israelites prosper, He’ll make sure they succeed.

This doesn’t make sense with human logic.  How can meditating on the Torah win physical battles with real enemies and real weapons?  But this is how God’s blessings are — we follow his commandments, He brings the blessings.  He guides us, He protects us, He compounds our efforts, He brings all His promises to fruition.  When we are following His commands, He has our full attention day and night, His word and Spirit guide our every move and it keeps us in His will and in the path of His blessing.  Following these commandments is how we get to the blessings included in Deuteronomy 26:

“Today Adonai your God orders you to obey these laws and rulings. Therefore, you are to observe and obey them with all your heart and all your being. You are agreeing today that Adonai is your God and that you will follow his ways; observe his laws, mitzvot and rulings; and do what he says.  In turn Adonai is agreeing today that you are his own unique treasure, as he promised you; that you are to observe all his mitzvot;  and that he will raise you high above all the nations he has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as he said, you will be a holy people for Adonai your God.”

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of your Torah and faithfulness to your promises!

Related Posts

The 10 Commandments: List or Lifestyle?
God’s Road Map to a Life of Blessing
Hearing God’s Leading