READ: Rev. 10:1-11
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. – Deut. 29:29
Moses has finished his farewell speech. After pronouncing blessings and curses, the people are gathered to renew the covenant. They have not earned God’s guidance with their behavior. Israel must now realize that in the promised land, God’s covenant will either be a blessing of peace and prosperity or a curse of exile. It still depends on the faithfulness of covenant love and obedience.
Moses concludes that part of his speech with the words of verse 29. Words that have lasting validity, even for us. They relate to the blessing and curse of the covenant. The hidden things of it are for the Lord: He determines how He will execute the blessing for covenant faithfulness and the curse for covenant unfaithfulness.
Whether God waits a long time for that or not is not made known to God’s people. They cannot infer from it whether they are acting correctly. God acts in His own time. They do know in general terms what will happen if they are not faithful. They may also know what God’s blessing entails. But how and when, only God determines and knows. We also read this in Rev. 10 when it comes to the judgments on the earth.
What God’s people do know is that God requires covenant faithfulness and obedience to His revealed will, His Word. Even Jesus Christ cannot tell us when the day of His return will be (Acts 1:7). But we do hear of glorious promises that He gives to His faithful church that holds fast to His Word (Rev. 3:10-13).
Can you infer blessing or curse from persecution of the church?
Singing: Ps. 86:4