There is a thunder and a roar in this passage that can make us quake and tremble. And we pray, our Father, that therefore we might be attentive to Your word as it is preached. We ask that it might make a deep impression upon us for good, for salvation, for spurring us on to love and to good works.
Leviticus 26:1-35. One Gen Z boy and his parents went to an old ruins place like Hampi and saw an old oil press—an aalai—where they used to have two cows turn the wheel, and the wheel would grind the grain into powder.
The boy, holding a sleek iPhone, with smugness, mocking and laughing, said, “See how stupid and useless these old-fashioned people were, using animals and wheels to grind… We don’t have to do all that. Just hit the switch, and the mixer-grinder grinds, and the fans run on their own.”
His father said, “Son, yes, it may be easy today, but you don’t understand that the basic mechanism and principle of energy for grinding flour has never changed, even today.
“Electricity that runs our mixers and fans in Bengaluru comes from places like the Sharavathi Hydroelectric Project (near Jog Falls). There, instead of the energy of two cows and a small wheel like this, high-pressure energy from a rushing river falls on a massive turbine wheel. It rotates at high speed, and then the water’s kinetic energy is converted into mechanical spinning power. It spins a massive electromagnet inside a copper coil; the electrons in the magnet move and create alternating current (AC). Then, to push this current in wires over long distances, very high voltage is added through a transformer—500,000 volts. Then high-pressure, dangerous electricity is sent to a city substation like Nagasandra in Bengaluru. Then the high voltage of 500,000 is reduced to 11,000 volts. Then it travels to street wires and comes to a street transformer that reduces it to 240 volts. Then it comes into the house electric meter, and comes to our houses through wires for grinding and running fans.
“It is that wheel that eventually turns the mixers and fans in our home. Your ignorance makes you think those old principles are stupid and useless.
“Those days it was easy to understand because you could see the direct connection of the cow, the wheel, and the grinding. But now it is complex because you cannot clearly see all of that, so you speak out of ignorance.
“When we understand life more deeply, you will realize times may change, but basic principles never change. Everything runs on that, my son.”
Just like the natural world runs on unchanging principles, the spiritual world also operates on unchanging basic principles, whether in olden days or the 21st century. Today, in a high-tech, growing world, Instagram Gen Z young people think the old principles of the Bible will not work today—that they are old-fashioned, stupid, useless duds, and no one can prosper in life following them, just like that boy thought in his ignorance and immaturity. But if you understand life more deeply, life’s basic principles always operate on the old principles of God’s law, who created and rules this world with providence.
In a world that thinks God’s ways are outdated, Leviticus 26 reminds us that God’s moral government has never changed. We come to chapter 26; it lists promises of prosperity for obedience and warnings of curses for disobedience. These rules apply to all times—whether Levitical days BC or 2026 AD. AI technology, work styles, lifestyles may change, and people may change, but the principles of prosperity, poverty, and curse apply even today.
We have seen a lot of things in Leviticus. In the first seven chapters, we saw those laws on sacrifice: burnt offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, and sin and guilt offerings. Then in chapters 8-10, we saw the institution of the priesthood. Then in chapters 11-16, we remember those regulations regarding cleanliness, clean and unclean food, childbirth, leprosy, and bodily discharges. Then in chapters 17-25, we saw those prescriptions for practical holiness.
We have two more chapters in Leviticus. All of this was given while Israel was under Mount Sinai. After this, God will command the Israelites to move from Sinai and go towards Canaan. Chapters 26 and 27 are the last Levitical chapters. You will notice the tone is completely different. Just as if a man sees his family for the last time, his tone and his words will be very serious, and what he says will deeply sink in and be unforgettable. We always try to fulfill the last parting words of the one we love. That is the kind of terrible seriousness we see in parting words. God wants these to sink deep into our hearts.
I was very strongly convicted in my life about my sin and lack of good works. This is such an important chapter; we should learn it in detail. So today, all I am going to do is give an overview introduction to the chapter, and starting next week or in two or three weeks, we will cover the full chapter section by section. So this chapter has solemn messages for us. Today, we will attempt to understand the chapter through three headings:
- Two covenant paths: Blessings or curses
- Jehovah’s guaranteed prophecies
- How this applies to us
First: Two Covenant Paths – Blessings or Curses
The whole structure of this capstone chapter can be divided into two covenant paths: the blessings of obedience and the curses for disobedience.
An outline of this chapter shows that in verses 1-13, if you take My commands seriously and obey Me, there are wonderful, alluring promises that God uses to draw His people sweetly to obedience. He promises them:
- Economic Abundance (v. 4-5): More prosperity and health. In those agricultural days: luxuriant fields, seasonal right-time rains, and increasing rich harvests. Your food tables will be filled with rich food; you can eat your fill and be satisfied.
- Peace, Safety, and National Defense (v. 5-8): “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid…” (v. 6a). “I will rid the land of evil beasts…” (v. 6b). Military immunity: “…neither shall the sword go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.” Supernatural victory: “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight…” (v. 8).
- Blessings and Growth in Family (v. 9): “For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you…” (v. 9a).
- Unending Supply (v. 10): “You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.” (Meaning: they will have so much surplus from previous years that they will have to throw it out just to make room for the massive new harvests).
- Spiritual Intimacy and Divine Presence (v. 11-13): God’s dwelling place: “I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you.” (v. 11). Divine active fellowship: “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (v. 12).
Notice the beautiful progression in these verses. God starts by filling their stomachs (food), then secures their borders (peace), then builds their families (multiplicity), and finally captures their hearts (His presence). It shows that God cares for the total well-being of His people, but the crown jewel of all blessings is always unbroken fellowship with Him. So prosperity, health, peaceful families, security, and fellowship with God are all promised as blessings of obedience.
Now, the second section is terror, verses 14-46—very bitter cursings.
If you take My commands lightly and disobey, terrible curses follow. “And I will set My face against you.” In place of prosperity, poverty: you shall work hard and sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies shall eat it up. And your strength will be spent uselessly.
Climate environmental lockdown: the sky will be like iron above you. The earth will be as bronze beneath you, hard as metal, for your land shall not yield its produce.
Verse 18: “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins and break down your pride of power.”
Psychological and mental torment: extreme paranoia and anxiety. You will flee even when no one is chasing you; the sound of a windblown leaf will make you run as if escaping a sword. “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.”
Physical affliction: “I will increase the plague on you; sudden terror, wasting diseases (consumption), and burning fevers that waste the eyes and drain the life/soul away.”
Verse 21: “Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.”
Destruction of family: “I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number…” (v. 22).
Verse 23: “And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me…”
Wars: punish you by wars by allowing enemies to attack you. Verse 25: “I will also bring upon you a sword, which will execute vengeance for the covenant.” Your borders will be invaded. Your enemies will be fierce. Your women will be widowed. Your children will be orphaned. Your barns will be burned down. Your cities will collapse.
Verse 27: “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury.”
Severe famine: “When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread to you by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.”
Unthinkable social collapse (cannibalism): “You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.” (v. 29). The social fabric completely disintegrates, leading to cannibalism. Then I will bring terrible famine—so terrible, you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters you shall eat.
Then, if you still do not repent or obey: the worst-case scenario (desperation). Exile and ruin: complete destruction of cities and sanctuaries. “I chase you from the promised land, I will scatter you among the nations, then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemy’s land.”
Oh my, what bitter parting words the Lord gives to His people with these cursings and these blessings! Two covenant paths—blessings and cursings. You choose. In Deuteronomy, He says, “I set life and death before you; you choose.”
If you see Deuteronomy 27, the same blessings and cursings are set before them before they enter Canaan, after 40 years of wandering as punishment. There is a monumental, dramatic recital. They have to enter Canaan between the two mountains of Ebal and Gerizim. Before entering, half of the Israelites are standing on Mount Gerizim, reciting the blessings upon the people of God, Israel, if they will obey the Lord. On the other mountain peak, Ebal, the other half stands and recites the cursings if they disobey. All of this choreography takes place there.
The structure of these blessings and cursings is in a covenant document format. Like a treaty deal pattern, it is a treaty pattern. We find this from the oldest ancient civilizations—Babylon, Assyria, and up to modern times—where oftentimes treaties or deals would be made between kings or nations.
In olden days, there was a boundary stone found between two kingdoms, and this was very common. Chisled onto that boundary stone were the obligations and pledges that one king on one side of the border made to the other king on the other side. And lo and behold, on that boundary stone were cursings and blessings. One king would make an agreement: if the other nation’s king fulfills his responsibilities, I promise these blessings—I will make sure I will not invade your border, and you will not invade mine. If you have an opponent come against you, I will militarily come and assist and aid you. We will have open trade without taxation between our two nations. Each nation would enjoy prosperity and safety. It would even say peace would be yours, the reign of heaven would fall upon you, and health would be for the citizens of your land. We see similar deals nations do today; India recently did one with the US and the EU.
Cursings: And if either of the parties would break their vow and not keep their obligation, there would be a threat of curses—I will attack you and stop all dealings. They would also swear and pray to their kingdom gods, whether it be Bel, Marduk, Chemosh, Baal, or Ashtoreth, asking these gods: “Please, if the king keeps the obligation, bless him, give rain and prosperity. If the king does not keep the obligation, then curse him, stop the rain, bring disease and destruction.”
We see God is using the exact same agreement format with the people of Israel in this covenant of two paths of blessings and cursings. So we see two covenant paths: blessing or curse.
Second: Jehovah’s Guaranteed Prophecies
This covenant is distinctly different from two human kings’ treaties. Those kings are men. If one breaks the rules, the other may fulfill it or may not be able to fulfill it. We know all their gods are dead idols; praying to them does not make any difference. We see in these secular treaties mere wishful thinking on the part of man, fanciful superstition, and the lame incantations of the superstitious.
But the covenant between the one true, living God and His people is different. These are not scarecrow, lame treaties; these are authoritative guarantees of a sovereign God who never lies. God is almighty and can fulfill either His promises of blessings or His threats of cursings.
Other idol gods threaten us—they may punish us, poke our eyes out blindly. They don’t even exist; they are merely figments of men’s imaginations. Very rarely might something wrong happen by mere strange coincidence.
However, when the living God says, “If you obey, there will be blessing; if you disobey, there will be cursing,” these are infallible, 100% guaranteed. Truly, truly indeed, these things will take place. For God, Jehovah, is the creator, the sustainer, the provider, and the judge of all history.
The earth is in His hands; He can make it like bronze. The sky is in His hands; He can make it like iron. He is the keeper of the clouds. He is the commander of all troops and of all armies. He is the giver of health, prosperity, and calamity. These are not lame incantations; these are certain promises and certain threats. If He says obedience brings prosperity, it will bring it, come what may. Disobedience will bring cursed calamity. It will definitely happen.
Do you know what the rest of the entire Old Testament story tells us? Every day you read and check it off, it actually tells us God is serious about His covenant promises and threats. If you trace the history of Israel, you realize these are not just empty threats. This turned out to be a prophecy of their history.
They go from here, and starting with Numbers, they repeatedly disobey God by grumbling, lusting after evil things which God said you should not do, becoming idolaters, and committing sexual immorality. Though He kept punishing them with opening ground and serpents, at last an entire generation perished in the wilderness and He did not take them into the promised land.
As soon as they entered the promised land, we start with the Book of Judges. Did they obey, or did they disobey? They repeatedly disobeyed. Is God really faithful to these threats and promises? Does He really mean what He says? We find in the Book of Judges that once they enter into the land, there is that cycle of blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience.
When they disobeyed, as He said here, God used Ammon, Midian, and Philistia to come in, attack, bring about havoc, and bring about destruction to the land because of their disobedience. But on the other hand, when they confessed their sin and repented of their covenant-breaking, the Lord brought judges such as Jephthah, Gideon, and Samson, and lo and behold, blessing was restored to the people of God. We see in the early history of Israel that God turns historical events on a dime according to Israel either obeying or disobeying. His covenant rule is the history of Israel: obedience brings prosperity, and disobedience brings a curse.
So when He says here, “I’ll bless you for obedience and I’ll curse you for disobedience,” God isn’t kidding. He means what He says. He is sovereignly serious.
And even beyond the Book of Judges, there is that clear history—that black-and-white, virtuous and vile history of Israel. And God continues to visit. There is Saul. He is a devious king. He leads the nation into ungodliness, and as a result, there is cursing from the Philistines, with the king ending up beheaded on Mount Gilboa.
On the other hand, a good king comes—a man after God’s own heart. He leads the people in the way of righteousness, and Jerusalem becomes a glorious crown jewel as righteousness reigns in the land. Then there is Solomon. Initially obedient, his heart is later inclined away from the Lord, and there is a splitting of the kingdom. Up north we find Jeroboam, who falls into or leaps headlong into idolatry with the golden calves. All these curses of famine, poverty, sickness, and destruction from enemies form the history we read in the Old Testament, which you are marking on your daily calendar reading.
He kept warning them through prophets. When they didn’t repent, finally God said, “Enough is enough.” The northern kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians—cursing for disobedience. Then the southern kingdom collapsed. There was the destruction of Jerusalem and the southern tribes as they were carried off in chains to Babylon. When God spoke these curses thousands of years before, God was dead serious.
You can actually trace the exact fulfillment of each of these threats. Let me show you two out of three. Leviticus 26:29: “Further, you shall eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you shall eat.”
In 2 Kings 6:26–29, as the king of Israel—Joram, the son of the horrible king Ahab and Jezebel—was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”
The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you?” Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?”
She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.”
When the king hears this, he tears his robes in grief and despair. God is dead serious about these curses.
Next, verse 33: “I will scatter you among the nations and no address…” The Assyrian dispersion of the ten tribes—the ten lost tribes. We don’t know where they went; only the tribe of Judah came back and built the temple.
Next, verse 34: “The land will enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation while you are in your enemy’s land.” They were in captivity for exactly 70 years to give the land rest.
Do you see profoundly how this very chapter of blessing and cursing is really a preview of the subsequent history of the nation to whom the living God is writing? But the story doesn’t end there.
Look what it says in Leviticus 26:40: “If though, if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers in their unfaithfulness which they also committed against me and also in their acting with hostility against me…” When did the nation of Israel ever confess their iniquity?
Well, read in Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra; they are all crying in exile, saying, “Lord, have mercy upon us. Forgive us of our iniquity.” The promise then is one of restoration.
Look at verse 42: “Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob and I will remember also my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.”
And sure enough, the Lord turns history on a dime once again and brings them back into the land—the restoration with Ezra and the restoration with Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the temple and the walls respectively. So we can see clearly this was pre-written history of Israel. These are not just empty threats; they are guaranteed promises and threats of Jehovah.
Three headings:
- Two covenant paths – Blessing or curse
- Jehovah’s guaranteed prophecies
- Thirdly, how this applies to us
Theological Questions
This was given to Old Testament Israel. Is this a works-based righteousness? Does this apply to us in the New Testament?
First, is this a works righteousness—that they are going to be rewarded by their works? We need to understand that all of this is written in the context of grace. Look at verse 13: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” I have already redeemed you. You are My own now—My treasure. That doesn’t mean you can live as you want; you will obey Me, you will be blessed. Since I have redeemed you, you are to respond in evangelical love to inherit these blessings.
Does this apply to us in the New Testament? Though the original recipients of these promises and curses are the Old Testament people of God—the theocratic nation of Israel to whom God gave a physical nation as an inheritance—and though the physical Canaan promised land and many other promises of national protection may not apply to us directly, the underlying principles of blessings in the New Testament are the same. Obedience brings blessings to God’s people; disobedience brings God’s chastisement, sometimes even terrible chastisement.
We are not reading someone’s old email that is completely unrelated to us; otherwise, why would the Holy Spirit record it? Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10 clearly says God’s intent is that these things are written for our learning and example, so we don’t make the same mistakes they did and suffer like them.
So they are relevant for the New Covenant church. We have already seen how Leviticus types and shadows are fulfilled for us in the New Testament—offerings, the priesthood, the temple—all fulfilled by Christ and in His church.
We recently studied how in the New Testament Christ has broken the wall between Jew and Gentile, making us one. Galatians 3:29: “And if you belong to Christ, a member of the Church of Christ, in Christ, and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” Well, I am a spiritual Jew then! I am an heir to Abraham’s promises as a member of the Church.
So, all that to say, just as the future history of Old Testament people was decided by obedience and disobedience, brothers and sisters, each of our lives’ futures is predicted in this chapter. Just as they reaped what they sowed, it is the same with us. Yes, just as God redeemed Israel from Egypt, He has redeemed us from sin; but just as He expected obedience from them as the fruit of redemption, God expects obedience and good works as the fruit of His grace.
We saw that we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works, to do good works. His grace will produce good works, and God will bless us for that. But when we abuse that grace as a license to sin—living in laziness—then we will face the consequences.
Notice Galatians 6:7 and 8: “Do not be deceived. Do not think that despite all disobedience, laziness, apathy, ingratitude, a fruitless life, and no service to God, somehow God will keep forgiving and keep blessing you.” No, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, this he will reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption. What are those but the cursings? But the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. What are those but the blessings given in New Covenant form?
It is by the same principle we see in the New Testament: obedience and repentance bring blessings; disobedience brings curses and punishment.
Let us see this directly from the Lord’s mouth in the last New Testament book, Revelation. In chapters 2 and 3, when the Lord Jesus deals with those seven churches, He deals with them according to a blessing and cursing format, doesn’t He?
Think of what He says to the church at Ephesus. He says, if you do not repent, I will remove the lampstand from among you. If you do repent, I will let you eat from the tree of life. To the church in Pergamum, Jesus says, if you repent, I will give you some of the hidden manna if you overcome, believe, and obey. But if you do not repent, I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. To the church at Sardis, He says, if you disobey, I will come to you like a thief. If you obey, conquer, and overcome, I will dress you in white. To the church in Laodicea, He will either spit you out of His mouth or sweetly dine with you. And the issue is whether you repent or not—blessings and cursings in the New Covenant.
So brethren, as we come back to Leviticus 26, we say this passage is ripe for the picking for us as a New Covenant congregation. This is our property! As saved people, God releases you as a child of God out into the orchard of this passage: if you obey, you get very sweet fruit; if you disobey, you get very bitter fruit.
When and How Do These Blessings and Cursings Visit the Christian?
We can see how they visited Old Covenant Israel as they were fulfilled literally and temporally. They got into Canaan, and we find that if they obeyed, their barns would be overflowing. If they disobeyed, enemies would come in and devastate the land.
But how is this to be understood for the New Covenant Christian with their inheritance of the promises? There are literal, physical blessings and curses, as well as spiritual blessings and curses.
I think there is a literal aspect to our inheriting the promises, such as what the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things, such as food and clothing, all these things shall be added to you.”
What things will be added? Though we don’t preach a crude prosperity gospel to draw people to Christ, as a believer, if you seek God’s kingdom as your first priority, God will take care of your worldly needs. I was talking today about tithing—after 10 years of beating your breast when you are faithful and serving the Lord, life is no longer about that. You decide how long you want to disobey and miss out on seeing God’s blessings. God gives a provisional promise in Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Sometimes God sovereignly may provide just as we need, according to our spiritual maturity, lest we destroy our souls. But He promises to take care of us. If we are struggling, we should look closely to see where we are disobeying the Lord.
However, it’s not always the case, is it? The godly man is not always prosperous in worldly terms. Nor is the ungodly man and the unfaithful believer always struck by visible calamity. We find it says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” If we want to live godly, we’ll be persecuted! You have people like Stephen who was stoned, James who was martyred by the sword, Paul who had his head severed, and John who was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. They didn’t escape worldly hardship, and yet they were entirely obedient. That was simply their calling to serve God.
Spiritual Blessings Promised to the Church
- Spiritual Refreshing and Growth: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:24-25
- A Flourishing Life: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” — Psalm 92:13-14
- The Promise of Peace (Prayer): Instead of anxiety, God promises a supernatural peace that guards the mind. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7
- Answers to Prayer: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7
- Scripture Reading & Prosperity: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” — Psalm 1:2-3
- Sabbath Joy and Deliverance: Isaiah highlights the deep spiritual satisfaction and triumph promised to those who elevate the Sabbath above their own routine business: “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight… then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.” — Isaiah 58:13-14 (Physical and spiritual refreshment—the Sabbath was explicitly designed as a gift of restoration for humanity).
Even in 1 Corinthians 11:30, remember how when the church at Corinth abused the Lord’s table and were harmful to one another, what did God do? God visited them with some premature deaths—a literal cursing and discipline on the part of those people. So there are indeed literal blessings and temporal cursings that the people of God can experience.
Think about everyday church life:
- Secret sin
- Prayerlessness
- Neglected family worship
- Delayed repentance
“Do we secretly think obedience is outdated?”
“What are we sowing in our homes right now—obedience or neglect?”
Secondly: Spiritual Blessings in the New Covenant
Then there are spiritual blessings. The New Covenant, in particular, offers a loftier inheritance than the mere literal and temporal. Think of peace, joy, and the expanding love of God—the fruits of the Spirit. Why are we sometimes not experiencing them? Are you walking by the Spirit, or are you grieving the Spirit by fulfilling the lusts of the flesh? Those spiritual fruits and blessings come by obedience: walking by the Spirit, never listening to Satan’s lies, and practicing mortification. Without mortification, there is no vivification or joy! How can you have the joy of the Spirit and peace when you grieve the Holy Spirit with the lusts of the flesh?
The New Covenant has greater inheritance blessings than the Old. We graduate from the toys of this world to eternal spiritual blessings. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Paul is physically deteriorating, and he acknowledges it.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen”—that’s the literal and the temporal—”but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
I believe when we have these promises of blessing given to us, we are to look not so much on the literal and temporal level, but on the spiritual and eternal level.
Our souls are transforming and growing into the image of God—experiencing increasing peace, joy, happiness, the presence of God, a deeper knowledge of God, drawing closer to Him, and doing more good works in the service of God. Isn’t that a blessing? Instead of living a life of beating our breasts in despair, we live a life rich toward God, full of good works, ready at any moment to go to heaven to inherit our eternal promised inheritance, and enjoying that already here on earth with full joy like Paul. That is true blessing!
Conversely, look at what the passage says about the alternative in 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” If you obey, you will be eternally blessed. If you disobey, you will suffer a loss of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ.
It is not a works-based salvation, but rather works as the fruit of salvation—being blessed eternally or losing rewards. Look at what Paul says in verse 15: “And He died for all, that those who live should no live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” Paul isn’t saying we obey so that we might earn an inheritance in heaven by our own strength; it is all on the basis of Christ’s work. Verse 14 says, “For the love of Christ compels us.” That is our motivation to love Christ! And when we love Christ and obey Him, a certain personal advantage and blessing comes to our souls.
So these are the exact same principles that work today:
- “You may ignore gravity, but gravity will not ignore you. In the same way, you may ignore God’s word, but God’s moral order still stands.”
- “Are we reading Leviticus as ancient history, or as God’s living warning to us?”
- “What fruit is my present spiritual life likely to produce?”
This Week’s Reflection
- This week, ask yourself each night: What am I sowing today—toward the flesh or toward the Spirit?
- Take one area of known disobedience and bring it to God in repentance this week.
- Read Leviticus 26 once more this week and pray, “Lord, show me where I am taking Your word lightly.”
- In family prayer, discuss one blessing of obedience and one danger of disobedience.