TBC Notes | thebereancall.org

T. A. McMahon

The Israelites' Choices...and Ours

Some preach today that man has no free will but that everything is controlled by God. This constitutes a false teaching that is denied by His Word. Deuteronomy 28 is a favorite chapter of mine that makes clear the consequences of our choices. Whereas the words of Deuteronomy were spoken to Israel, they speak to all of us about our obedience and disobedience regarding the Lord's teachings. Here's the obedience part, the results of which every believer should greatly prefer: 

Deuteronomy:28:1-14 

1  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 

2  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 

3  Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 

4  Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 

5  Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 

6  Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 

7  The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 

8  The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

9  The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 

10  And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. 

11  And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 

12  The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 

13  And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 

14  And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 

The disobedience consequences are contained in Deuteronomy:28:15-68, which you may read for yourself. Why anyone would choose disobedience only demonstrates the wicked heart of mankind, and clearly establishes their self-willed choice making.

T. A. McMahon

Executive Director