First, the Conditions; Then, the Blessings

In a world filled with wickedness (Gen 6:5) and violence (6:11), God called Noah to build a ship (6:14). Noah obeyed all that God commanded him (6:22; 7:5) so that God closed Noah into the ark and saved him from death (7:16). First, Noah met the conditions. Then, Noah received the blessing.

Under threat of impending and painful death, Rahab of Jericho asked to be treated kindly and faithfully by the invading Israelites (Joshua 2:12). Under Joshua’s leadership, the spies gave Rahab three conditions: tie a scarlet thread in her window; gather her family into her home; and do not tell anyone of the Israelites’ plans (2:18-20). After the departure of the spies, Rahab immediately set about doing those three things (2:21). When Israel conquered Jericho, they found Rahab had met the conditions, so she received the blessing (6:17, 25).

Speaking of Jericho, in order for Israel to know that the city was a gift of God and not earned, God required them to take it in a way that was quite unmilitaristic. They were to march around the city once a day for six days (Joshua 6:3). On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and the priests were to blow their trumpets (6:4). At the final trumpet sound, the people were to shout and the walls of the fortified city would fall flat (6:5). The Israelites fulfilled the conditions for victory, just as God had commanded (6:12-14; 6:15-16, 20-21). Then, they were blessed with the spoils of the city.

Naaman was a Syrian commander, brave and strong, but full of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1). At the suggestion of an Israelite servant girl, he went to the prophet of God (Elisha) in Samaria to be healed. When Elisha sent a servant to tell Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman thought the suggestion preposterous (5:11-12). After the urging of his servants, Naaman did what the prophet of God told him to do and he was cleansed of leprosy (5:14). When Naaman fulfilled the conditions, he received the blessing.
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Jesus said, “He that believes and is immersed for the forgiveness of sins shall be saved and shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). You do not receive the blessings until you fulfill the conditions.

–Paul Holland

 

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