God warned Israelites to honor his laws and obey them; the people will prosper if they obey, but they will suffer terrible consequences if they disobey. God stated if Israelites disobey his laws, they would become subjected and be ruled by their enemies who would take them captive and scatter them around the world. Jehovah also provided a pathway for Israelites’ restoration if they later repent from their sins. God said he would forgive their sins; lead them out of captivity, and reinstate them into their Promised Land. God said,
“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:1-6).
Lesson:
God hates sins, but loves sinners who repent from their sins. Jehovah will not cast off any sinner who repents from his/her sins and turn to him. He will show mercy and restore the person to the joy of salvation furnished by his Son Jesus Christ. However, it’s worth emphasizing that God can still not adopt an unrepentant sinner into his vineyard until repentance is exercised. Repentance must be exercised before he can extend his loving arms for restoration. In other words, repentance must precede forgiveness! Meanwhile, the forgiveness of sin can only be obtained through Jesus Christ the Son of God who died on the cross for all humans’ sins. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, every sinner will receive forgiveness of sin. Therefore, every sinner must come humbly before God to ask for forgiveness through the name of Jesus Christ. Once the step is taken, the person’s sins would be forgiven, and his/her name will be written in the book of life.
Prayer:
Dear God, I am sorry for all my past mistakes; I repent from all my sins, and I ask for forgiveness through the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Please write your laws into my mind, and let me consciously obey them so that you can be happy to prosper me. Bless me with your Holy Spirit to start living holy and acceptable life before you so that I can qualify for your eternal kingdom. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
