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TOPIC: KINDNESS AND WRATH
[DCLM DAILY MANNA 19 MAY 2020 DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR WILLIAM FOLORUNSO KUMUYI]
Text: Deuteronomy 28:58-68
58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
59 Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
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66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Key Verse: “And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it” (Deuteronomy 28:63).
MESSAGE:
The story was told of a young lawyer whose client was charged with murder. He did all he could to clear his client and finally found some extenuating circumstances which he used to his client’s advantage. After much deliberations, the court found the defendant not guilty. The lawyer had to warn him to steer clear of evil and cleave henceforth to God. Years later, the man was again arraigned for murder. The lawyer who had defended him at his first trial was now the judge at the bench. At the conclusion of the trial, he was found guilty and eventually hanged by the neck. The same God who is merciful to sinners today will judge them on the final day if they die in their sin.
The above illustration depicts the goodness and severity of our God. In our text, Moses continued to emphasise the evil that would come upon the children of Israel should they fail to obey God’s word and fear His “glorious and fearful name”. The Lord would bring great plagues upon them that would linger for a long time. Although they were to be as the stars of heaven, in His wrath, they shall be reduced. He who showed them kindness and multiplied them will turn His back on them. He would bring innumerable destructions upon them, scatter them abroad and cause them to be sold as slaves to enemy nations. God has innumerable blessings for those who obey Him. If we remain obedient to His word, He promises to heal and make us prosper. But if we disobey Him, the plagues of Egypt will be nothing compared to the suffering He will subject us.
God’s judgments are severe against those who fail to repent; but His goodness is towards those who continue in His righteousness. Genuine repentance from sin and continued obedience to His word is the escape route from judgment. Make your decision today.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Wholehearted obedience to God naturally attracts His blessings.
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