Hebraic Musing – What is His Prosperity Message for Us?

 Hebraic Musing – What is His Prosperity Message for Us?

Are we entitled to prosperity just because we are Christians?  The Torah portion Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:9 is called Ki Tavo or "when you come."   G-d instructs His people that when they receive the promise He has given them, that they should not forget from whence it came.  That’s preachable, especially since we have received phase one of His promise, we’ll be entering the promised land!  In Chapter 26 & 27 Moses sets requirements on His people regarding first-fruit offerings; and the curses for disobedience.  Then chapter 28 starts with “If…”

Note the ‘if, then’ conditions in Chapt.28!  All too often the quotes of phrases/sentences from this passage are taken out of context.  Rarely do I hear mention of the ‘if, then’ conditions on the blessings, as well as ‘if, then’ consequences/curses resulting from not obeying.  Chapter 28 needs to be understood in its entirety.  Try reading without picking and choosing!   And note the frequent mention of “if”!

Deut.28:1-14 NIV “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.   All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:  You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock  . . .   Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.   You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.    The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.   The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.  The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands …   The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity …   The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.    The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”    Wow – Let’s seek those blessings.   But let’s keep reading…

Dt.28:15…   “However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: …”   (Note that there were 13 verses of ‘blessings’ while the next 54 verses (v15 to v68) define the curses!

Too often preachers promise blessings available to their flock based on phrases in the first 14 verses.  Words such as "You shall be the head and not the tail;" or "Blessed shall you be as you go in and bless shall you be as you go out" are readily applied to our friends and our prayer partners.  But, unless we walk in obedience to God's instruction, to His Torah, the Lord has NOT promised those blessings.

God asks us to bring the first fruit of your produce to Him and in addition we are to feed those "Baby Christians" and those who are still growing in their walk with Him.  Feeding means more than just paying your tithe and giving an offering; it means giving your life in the work of raising up Believers so that all may become strong enough to feed others.  What did Yeshua tell Peter, in red letters? “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.”  What might that be telling us what to do?  Although this was spoken to His Chosen People, might it also apply to us Gentile Believers who are grafted in?

His atoning sacrifice on the cross was not to relieve us from obedience requirements.  If anything, we should be more desirous of obedient living because of what He did for us.  The final words of Moses to Israel are recorded in the final words of His Covenant; and His words to them are the best advise for you and for me today.  He closed his instructions by saying, "Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do." Deut.29:9 NKJV

Points to ponder

God’s love may be unconditional; but are His blessings conditional?

God’s blessings are based on “If we obey”; but If Jesus is our LORD, shouldn’t we want to obey?

“if you do not obey … and do not carefully follow all his commands…, all these curses will come upon you”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd              June 14, 2026  (Update of October 6, 2009 Hebraic Insight)
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
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