I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Leviticus 26:13 NIV
While Israel was camped at Mt. Sinai, and during the years of wandering in the wilderness, God gave a series of commands to them. These commands were the terms of the covenant established at Sinai between the Lord God and Israel. And in this 26th chapter of Leviticus, God shares the consequences for obedience and disobedience to those commands.
In this chapter, God makes two conditional statements. He tells the people that if they obey his commands (Lev. 26:3), then they will experience his blessing (Lev. 26:4-12). But if they do not carry out his commands and violate his covenant (Lev. 26:14-15), then God would punish them for their disobedience (Lev. 26:16-39).
But what gave God the right to establish commands and expect Israel to follow them? This 13th verse provides us with the answer. He is the LORD, and he was their God. The one who had delivered them from slavery and oppression in Egypt. And who had enabled them to walk as free people with their heads held high. He had the right because of who he was. And because of what he had done for them.
What God told Israel over 3000 years ago is also true for me. He is the LORD my God. And he has delivered me from bondage to sin and coming destruction. I am free because of what he has done for me. And my response should be to walk in faithful obedience to him. If I do, I can expect his blessings in my life. If I fail, I should expect his correcting discipline. How much better to experience his blessing rather than his discipline?
