Blessings for Israel because of their Obedience Scripture Reading: Leviticus 26:1-16 Objectives: 1. Learn some aspects of the book of Leviticus. 2. Understand that like Israel, God promises His blessing if we obey Him and His punishment if we disobey Him. Introduction: God promised His people that He would bless them but as long as they fulfilled all of His commandments. God's promise to them was the occupation of the land, rain, fertility, and peace. Although Moses was a mediator, he could not bring eternal blessings to the people. Therefore, the world must be directed towards another. And in the Gospel of John 1:16-18, we have the answer: 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.[a] 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[b] is near to the Father s heart. He has revealed God to us. Key Terms: Reflection: A life of obedience to the Lord and investing in the eternal will be a blessing for everything else, causing God to take care of all our worries, weaknesses, and needs. Review briefly: The Commandments 1-3 The Ten Commandmentsare a set of ethical and worship principles that teach us how to live close to God and how to live with other members of the community. They reflect the spiritual laws, which, if obeyed, ensure peace and harmony. THE FIRST STEP IS LOVE TOWARDS GOD and how we relate to Him. If we first have the experience of God's love in our lives, then that same love is what we have to share with our neighbor. 1
1) You shall have no other gods before Me. 2) You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. 3) You shall not worship them nor serve them. What is Obedience? Do what is right in the right time and in the right way. What is being obedient? It is accepting and fulfilling the will of someone who represents an authority for us, for example God, your parents, your teachers, the pastor, your coach, etc. Why teach obedience? God has ordered us to do so (Ephesians 6: 1). JESUS- "Although he was a Son... he learned obedience." (Hebrews 5:7-8) It is our example. What is Disobedience? Disobedience consists in accomplishing what GOD clearly tells us NOT to DO, therefore disobeying GOD is sin. We disobey because we feel self-sufficient and therefore we contradict what GOD has told us; thus, we choose to do our will and not that of GOD, which brings negative results to our life. Disobedience is a rebellion against GOD and makes us sinners. (Romans 5:19) Disobedience separates the person from the Grace of GOD. (Hebrews 3:18) By the Grace of GOD we are rescued from what leads us to live a life of disobedience. (Romans 11: 30-32) Curses or punishments: "Curse" or similar expressions communicates the basic idea of wishing or pronouncing evil against someone. A curse can also be a punishment or an evil produced by a supernatural force or entity. And to a person or individual to exclaim that word is to make reference that she is angry. Lesson: Blessings of Obedience 26 [a] You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you erect an image, a 2
sacred pillar or an obelisk, nor shall you place any figured stone in your land so that you may bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. 2 You shall keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the Lord. The instructions found in Leviticus were not given to the Israelites to help them achieve their salvation. Salvation can not be earned. It is always a gift of the grace of God that is received by faith. These instructions were given to a redeemed nation so that its members would know how to maintain their communion with God. God would give them the land, but their occupation would be determined by the response of the Israelites to the conditions imposed by God. Obedience was a good foundation for receiving blessings on earth. Their presence in the country, the rains, and the abundant harvests would indicate the help of God. 3 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and [obediently] do them,4 then I will give you rain in its season, and the land will yield her produce and the trees of the field bear their fruit. 5 And your threshing season will last until grape gathering and the grape gathering [time] will last until planting, and you will eat your bread and be filled and live securely in your land. At that time, the increase in its population would not result in the problem of food shortages for the reason being there would be such an abundance of food that they would have to remove stored supplies to have room to store new ones. When God blesses he doesn t bless in small amounts or give temporary blessings. God is a God that hits home base with blessings. He gives us the best of the best and in profusion. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. -2 Corinthians 9:8 Isn t God glorious and so amazing? Although we aren t perfect, He knows our hearts and will bless those who are obedient to His Word. All the good things you have come from Him because He is a God of mercy, compassion, and unfailing love. God Himself says, But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret 3
motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." Jeremiah 17:10 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17 6 I will also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down and there will be no one to make you afraid. I will also eliminate harmful animals from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. 7 And you will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will put ten thousand to flight; your enemies will fall before you by the sword. God promises victory over their enemies as part of their blessing. However, this does not only apply to the Israelites this time, but God also promises His children that those who live a life in obedience will have divine protection and peace. For You, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. - Psalm 46:1 9 For I will turn toward you [with favor and regard] and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish and confirm My covenant with you. 10 You will eat the old supply of [abundant] produce, and clear out the old [to make room] for the new. 11 I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject nor separate itself from you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright [with heads held high as free men]. Penalties of Disobedience 14 But. We will soon see what happens when there is a case of disobedience. An absence of obedience signified God s absence from the earth causing hunger and drought, which would represent God's judgment for their disobedience. if you do not obey Me and do not [obediently] do all these commandments, 15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul rejects My ordinances, so that you will not [obediently] do all My commandments, and in this way break My 4
covenant, 16 I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you sudden terror, consumption, and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to languish also. And you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat what you plant. When we disobey God, there will be consequences that result in punishment for our sins. Questions: When you don t do what your parents say, do the opposite, or not do what was asked at the right time, what happens? Why do parents discipline their children? but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Romans 2:8 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." Hebrews 12:6 Why does God discipline us? No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 I know, O LORD, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Psalm 119:75 Conclusion: Looking back at the chapter we just read, we can pinpoint a list of blessings God promised the Israelites. They are: 1. Economic prosperity 2. Security and Protection 3. Abundance of Food 4. Victory over their enemies 5. No barrenness 6. God would fulfill His covenant 7. His promised presence 8. Liberation from slavery (physical and spiritual) There is no doubt that obedience generates blessings, however disobedience can make us lose many blessings. Every person wants to be blessed, to expect the best 5
from Heaven, but by nature people seek blessings in their own way, under their own rules, means and conditions, yet the Word of God teaches us how we can be blessed and under what conditions. Verse to memorize / verso para memorizer: 9»Los miraré con agrado, los haré fértiles y multiplicaré su pueblo. Cumpliré mi pacto con ustedes. Levítico 26:9 (NTV) 9 For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and establishing and ratifying My covenant with you. Leviticus 26:9 (AMPC) First Service- Activities: 6
In the lines provided write down at least 5 acts of blessings you have seen being done in people s lives: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In the lines provided write down at least 5 things that may cause disobedience: 7
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Second Service- 8
Fill in the blank: 1. The Israelites were not to erect an, a an obelisk, not places any figured in the land. 2. If they obeyed God will give them in its season and the land will yield her and the trees of the field bear their. 3. The Israelites will chase their and live. 4. of you will chase a, and a hundred of you will put ten to flight; your enemies will fall before you by the. 5. For I will turn toward you [with and ] and make you and you, and I will establish and confirm My with you. 6. God brought them out of the land of so that they would not be. 7. But if you do not obey Me and do not [obediently] do all these, 15 if, instead, you reject My, and if your soul My ordinances 8. I will set My against you (verse 17). Color the image below: Time to reflect: In the lines provided write down at least 10 blessings in your life: 9
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. In the lines provided write down at least 5 ways you could bless others: 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 10