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Response
To comprehend the blessing and cursing of Israel as outlined in the Mosaic Covenant, it is essential to revisit a concise narrative. The Bible commences with the creation of everything (Genesis 1), including humanity (Genesis 1:26-27), which initially enjoyed a harmonious relationship with God. However, sin resulted in death and a separation from God “and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”, (Genesis 3:15,24) “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”, (Genesis 3:15,24). Genesis then depicts God selecting a people, starting with Abram (Genesis 12:1-3). These individuals, later identified as Israel, were intended to be unique, chosen by God, and in a covenant with Him. Due to the sinfulness of this community, God provided them with the Mosaic Law “Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.”, (Galatians 3:19) to instruct Israel and reveal their dependence on Christ.
Within this Law, God established a framework where obedience resulted in blessings and disobedience led to curses (Deuteronomy 11:26;27-28). Deuteronomy 11:26 clearly introduces this concept, while Deuteronomy 27-28 elaborates on how this system is to function.
The book of Judges (and consequently Ruth; Ruth 1:1) provides an example of how this model works. The book of Judges details a sin cycle that begins with Israel’s sinfulness, followed by their cursing or oppression, then their repentance, and then God’s deliverance through a judge. However, once the judge died, Israel would go back into a sinful lifestyle, resulting again in cursing (Judges 2:11-23). While the people of Israel were in obedience, God blessed them mightily “And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.”, (Judges 3:11), but He utilized various means to curse Israel whenever the sin cycle repeated (verses 12–14).
Why did God utilize this system of blessing and cursing?
1) For the good of Israel: Whatever the specific reasons for the blessing and cursing, ultimately, Moses states that God’s commandments (of which the blessing and cursing are a part) are for the good of the people “And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.”, (Deuteronomy 6:24).
2) A reward for obedience: Throughout the Scriptures, God presents a reward for obedience (Genesis 2:6-7; Deuteronomy 11:27; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 22:12).
3) A rightful judgment for disobedience: God also presents judgment for disobedience throughout the Scriptures (Genesis 2:17; Deuteronomy 11:28; Romans 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:30; Revelation 22:12).
4) A call to repentance: The nation of Israel faced a decision between life and death, blessing and cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Choosing obedience would result in the blessing of a prosperous life in the Promised Land, while disobedience would bring about the aforementioned curses, leading to oppression, death through various means, and ultimately exile from the Promised Land. As depicted in the book of Judges, these curses highlighted the people’s failings, prompting a call to repentance and a restoration of their relationship with God.
God requires obedience and holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16). The concept of blessing and cursing is not limited to the book of Deuteronomy or the nation of Israel; it also applies to Christians. Although Christians have been born again “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3) and have been positionally sanctified “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9), their earthly actions will be judged—obedience to God will be rewarded (blessed), while disobedience will be consumed (cursed), as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15.
The God of the Bible is perfectly holy “And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy,
Is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. », (Isaiah 6:3) and requires all to be the same (Isaiah 6:5;1 Peter 1:15-16). Whenever unholiness is found, the inevitable outcome is cursing. Through God’s grace, Jesus became the curse for all those who believe in Him and His work (Galatians 3:10-14). Jesus died on a cross to be the sacrifice that carried the curses deserved by all humankind, giving instead the blessing He earned to all those who have faith «For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21). Paul affirms that this grace should motivate the believer to pursue godliness or holiness (Titus 2:11-15).
