Todays reading starts out with a promise from God, that if Israel would follow Gods plans then they as a people would remain under God’s blessing. God would protect the Israelites from wild animals and foreign armies. He would make sure that the Israelites could count on a rain season. Which let me tell you, if you are a farmer or you live off of the land, as the Israelites did, this is a major blessing. I can’t tell you how many times I prayed with farmers in central Arkansas for rain!

Lastly and most importantly, God said in 26:11-12 “I will live among you, and I will not despise you. 12 I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

How great is it to live in the blessings and company of God.

But if the Israelites were to deviate from God’s plans then they would walk away from His blessing, and God would curse them.

There would be illness, famine and defeat, droughts and bad harvests.

Wild animals will be a nuisance,

Foreign armies would invade and have success and ultimately, God would remove them from the land.

God desired total commitment to Him and to avoid idols of all kinds.