Why Obedience Matters

Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, “I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.”   Deuteronomy 29:19

Toward the end of his life, Moses was concerned that some people who knew God’s unfailing love—the love expressed in, “The LORD . . . is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands” (Deuteronomy 7:9)—might already have been turning away from him.

Can you see how one of God’s people might reach this point? “We’re God’s people. God has given us the sacrifices to cover our sins and a high priest who goes into the Holy Place for us. Since God loves us unconditionally, all we need to do is perform this ritual, and then for the rest of the week, we can do what we want. Why does obedience matter? No matter what I do, God will keep blessing me.”

Moses saw that some people were beginning to think like that. But God had addressed the issue (see Leviticus 26). He gave a long list of promises that were all conditional—promises predicated on the little word if: “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will . . .” (26:3-4). And God listed the blessings that would follow: a strong economy (abundant harvests) and national security (victory over enemies), and the greatest blessing that follows from obedience: “I will live among you” (26:11).

Then God spoke about disobedience and its results: “If you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you” (Leviticus 26:14-16). The consequences of disobedience were terrible, some of which would make your hair stand on end—ill health, bad harvests, and military defeat.

Once you begin thinking, It doesn’t matter what I do; God will still bless me, you are walking away from the presence of God and into his loving discipline.

For further reading, see Hebrews 12