The Bonus of Obedience

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” (Deut. 28:2)

God’s promise to His people in olden times was that they’d be overtaken by His blessings as they traveled the road of obedience. In verse five, He pledges to all who will hearken to His voice, “a basketful of blessings.” It is this sort who, in our congregations, robustly sing, “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing.”

The wise man tells us, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Is it any wonder then that a man such as Jacob was willing to limp through life to have them? He no doubt felt, if only he could have God’s blessings upon him, anything was worth that. As a result of his desire and committal, the old man never did outrun God’s blessings, from Penuel to the end of his days; they were always catching up to, and overtaking him.

Being on God’s road of obedience does not mean perfection. It does not mean that we will not stumble and fall on our faces from time to time. But it does mean we are headed in the right direction, toward that Celestial City, with a promised occupancy for all who “obey the gospel.” But, until we arrive there, one can be sure each act of obedience to the Lord will be followed by God’s blessings. And I have found in my own life, they can catch-up real fast!

God’s great promise to His obedient children is, “I will... open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].