God’s Covenant Blessing
Are there principles behind God’s blessing? We all agree there must be, but what are they? And sometimes it seems God blesses those we don’t think “deserve” that blessing, and seems to hold back His blessing from those we think truly “deserve” it. Why?
Throughout the Old Testament God’s blessing was over people who had come into relationship with Him through His initiative. No one “worked” their way to Him. These people were always in covenant relationship with God. God had no (and still has no) haphazard relationships with humanity. All relationship was defined by a covenant agreement.
God always initiated the covenant and set the conditions for entering and continuing in it. His blessing was only possible within the confines of the covenant. The same is true today. As those called into covenant responded to God in faith and obedience, God’s covenant blessing came upon them.
The blessing of the covenant not only began with the recipient responding in faith and obedience, but continued with their faith and obedience. To continue in God’s blessing there had to be a continuing in faith and obedience. This is implicit throughout the Old Testament but is clearly stated in scriptures like Deuteronomy 26:16-19. Failure to continue meant God would curtail His blessing. This too is implicit throughout scripture but clearly stated in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Faith and obedience allow us to live within the covenant and so enjoy its blessing. God’s blessing is always covenant blessing. Remain in the covenant and you remain in His blessing. Faith and obedience don’t earn us the right to God’s blessing. We remain in the covenant through faith and obedience and this is where God’s blessing flows.
This is true throughout the Bible. We don’t ever deserve God’s blessing by our faith and obedience. This might seem a subtle difference but it makes a world of difference to God.
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