IF I, THEN HE

READING: DEUTERONOMY 19:7-13

Verse 9: “and if you keep all these commandments and do them, which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk always in His ways, then you shall add three more cities for yourself besides these three.”

Verse eight in this passage uses the word “if”. It reads “Now if the Lord your God enlarges your territory as He swore to your fathers...”. Might God swear to something and then be “iffy” about it? Verse nine gives us a clue to the answer to that question. This verse provides God’s instruction to the Israelites, to keep and do His commandments. As God gave them this instruction, there is no question that He would respond faithfully to the obedience of His command. He was and is completely faithful to His Word! However, if the Israelites failed to do what was required, they would not be able to receive the promise of God. The "if" applies to the people and not to the Lord. If they failed, the promise would still exist, but they would not be able to experience it. For an example, let’s consider a person who needs a shower. The water is running for that person, but he or she can’t get wet until stepping into the shower. Until that is done, fulfillment of the promise of a shower is available, but the shower is not achieved. The fulfillment of God’s promise was present for the Israelites, but they had to position themselves in order to receive it. Their experience teaches us today that surely the promises of God are yes, amen and available to bless us. There is no "if" in the Lord! Our obedience will produce His reward. That’s a thought – about God’s Word

RESPONSE

1. Are you looking for a fulfillment of promise for which you are not properly positioned?

2. List some “ifs of God” that you have accepted and the blessings that have resulted.