Exodus 15:26

AMP – saying, If you diligently listen and pay attention the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively obey] all His precepts and statutes, then I will not put you on any of the diseases which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the “Lord who heals you.”

NRSVUE – He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”

VOICE – If you will listen closely to My voice – the voice of your God – and do what is right in My eyes, pay attention to My instructions, and keep all of My laws; then I will not bring on you any of the plagues that I did on the Egyptians, for I am the Eternal, your Healer.”

Follow God’s Decrees

The ancient Israelites found that listening to God’s voice was critical for their survival and spiritual growth. They were called to live according to God’s righteousness, not their own understanding. They need to pay attention to God’s commands, through the laws and decrees they received. The laws received at Mount Sinai described a comprehensive guide to live in a way that pleases God. Keeping God’s statutes implies a commitment to uphold His laws consistently. They were meant to set them apart as a holy nation. To keep these is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

The plagues of Egypt showed God’s power and judgment against disobeying His commands and against idolatry. Obeying God would result in His protection from related afflictions. God is our healer, both physically and spiritually. God can restore things and make them whole. We see this come to life in the New Testament through Jesus, who healing the sick and offered spiritual healing through His sacrifice.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: This verse shows us a duality of God’s power: disobeying God leads to affliction, obeying God leads to protection. How does that make you feel given our modern society?

Community Rules

Let’s talk about the duality of God’s power that we read about. Granted, this line of thinking comes from the ancient Israelite’s understanding of Yahweh for their society. They were a new community, trying to set themselves apart from the pagan communities around them. They took this very seriously, and feared the consequences of what it meant to not follow God. Deuteronomy 28 talks about this in depth. I won’t go into them fully, but listen to these things and see if they may sound familiar to you.

The blessings described: victory against our enemies, fertility to their land, community, and prosperity. The afflictions mentioned: poverty, pestilence, plagues, consumption, sickness, disease, oppression, jealousy, and more. It’s hard to wrap our minds around the fact that God would cause these things to happen to His chosen people, especially when we often teach that God is loving, kind, and compassionate. With that in mind, I want to guide a shift in perspective that may help us when we discuss God’s blessing and curses.

You may think that God punishes or rewards you based on your own behavior. The blessings and curses listed in Deuteronomy 28 suggest the collective health of the Israelite society and nation. This expands that picture wider to help us make that we are all working together for the greater good of humanity, not just for our own personal gain. You may think that by following God, you will receive this magical prize or get a magical curse. God’s command are a natural, healthy way to build a just society. Breaking them down it what leads to a social breakdown. Everyone taking the the system of what’s right and wrong into their own hands doesn’t initiate progress, because that’s subjective per person. We need a stable foundation, and God’s way is that: love God with you heart, soul, strength, and mind and love your neighbor as Christ loved you. You may think that God issues direct, active threats for all people. Deuteronomy 28 connects to the Old Covenant that was made specifically with Ancient Israel during a unique time of history. We must remember that these rules made sense for them, and may not make sense for us. We need to recognize that we need to adapt to the times, and move towards a place that accepts all of us for who we are regardless of the differences in our race, sexual orientation, gender identity, wealth and social status, and more. What works for the least, works for all. You may think that God just sits back and curses people. The heavy list of negative outcomes shows the fragility of human society when justice and care of the poor fail. We need to look for collective mercy, over strict payback. God doesn’t want to see any of us suffer. God doesn’t want His people to go through life in pain, agony, and stress. It’s our role to make sure that we can care for each other and ensure everyone has the rights and resources available to them.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do you view God’s punishments and blessings? How can you approach Deuteronomy 28 personally and communally?