Choosing Your Path

When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people.   Deuteronomy 27:12

Beyond Mount Ebal lies Mount Gerizim, the mountain of God’s blessing. Having passed Ebal, where they renounced sin, God’s people now walked under Mount Gerizim, where the Levites shouted out the blessings of God: “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed” (Deuteronomy 28:6).

God was saying, “I will be with you to bless you. My hand will be upon you. Though enemies come against you, I will protect you. You will know my presence and my peace.”

Whenever the people looked up to the hills, these two mountains would have reminded them that there are two ways to live and that they lead to two entirely different experiences of the love of God. The path of disobedience leads to an experience of God’s discipline, in which he loves us by doing whatever it takes to bring us back to himself. The path of obedience leads to an experience of God’s blessing, in which he loves us by showering good gifts upon his people.

Jesus Christ came into the world, “that [we] may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). He made it clear that the paths of obedience and disobedience lead not only to different experiences in this life, but to two different destinations (see Matthew 7:13-14). Christ bore the Curse for us so that it would be possible for us to get off the road that leads to destruction and onto the road that leads to life.

Look back on the last ten years of your life. Is there a pattern of pushing outside the boundaries of God’s commands? Is there a pattern of resisting God and then God confronting the problem to bring you back? Have you been wearing yourself out by resisting his will and his truth? What will the next ten years look like? Choose life! Choose the path of God’s blessing.

For further reading, see Deuteronomy 28