Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV
God took time to warn Israel about the land it was about to enter: a land it didn't work for or deserve. That's the first lesson about God: you cannot really lay claim to anything of value that makes you deserve God's mercy and grace. It is about God's prerogative, not man's ability.
God also reminded Israel about the covenant He had made with Abraham and their fathers, and the conditions attached to the covenant. We love to claim the blessings, but we always conveniently ignore the conditions. As God reminds Israel of who He is and what He can do, He reminds them also of what He expects from them. God is faithful to His Word and Promise, as it is his nature to be. He will keep his own part of the covenant. It is man that must be careful about what he does, so that he can enjoy the full benefits available under the covenant.
He warns ahead of time that obedience to His commands is the key that unlocks His full ability to bless. God's resources are inexhaustible, but they will not be wasted or dispensed without accountability. God is also a generational God; one who is able to uphold his own end of the bargain for as long as the earth remains. If the seasons could remain since God made that pronouncement to Noah all those centuries ago, then you can rest assured that God is able to keep his promise of mercy to all who remain faithful and obedient.
That is my first and utmost priority: to know Him, what He wants from me, and obey Him. Relationship with God, reading, research and remembrance of His Word, with personal and lifelong commitment to obey. That must be the summary of my life's goals, if I will end well. What's your decision? His time of favour is here.
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