Repentance

Author: Joseph

Date: October 14, 2018

God foretells Israel of what will happen if they choose to obey Him or disobey Him. If Israel is obedient to Him, then they will prosper and be defended from their enemies. Their land will have peace and they will gather fruitfulness from the land. God also promises to dwell among them and not reject them. He says that He will be their God and will walk among them.

If Israel is disobedient, then they will be terrorized by their enemies and overcome by those that hate them. He then says, “If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins” (Leviticus 26:18). The land then becomes cursed and no fruit will come forth.

After the land is cursed, God continues to say, “And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with hostility against you” (Leviticus 26:23-24). God states several times that if Israel does not repent after one affliction, He will bring on another, with each successive affliction having the purpose of causing Israel to turn in obedience to God and forsake their sins against Him.

"...God offers hope..."

God’s final warning for continued disobedience in exile and death in a foreign land. Israel will not only be removed from their blessings, but also incur the highest penalty for sin, death.

After all these warnings, God offers hope to His people. He offers them clear direction in how to turn away from their sins. God says, “If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me… or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember My covenant” (Leviticus 26:40-42).

The path of repentance is the path of healing and redemption. Israel knew that if they turned to God in confession and humility, that He would forgive them. Israel had to acknowledge their sin and turn away from their wicked deeds, drawing near to God in humility, and then would be forgiven.

When you repent, do you confess your sins in humility? It is by humility that we realize that we are not justified and that He is right to punish us if He chose to. However, God offers mercy in repentance and is willing to forgive all of our sins. Seek God’s mercy, humbly confessing your sins to Him and receive His forgiveness and healing today. He will bless you in your repentance and you will begin to see your life in its fullness again.

Bible Passage: Leviticus 26:1-46

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org