“. . . that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever.” (Deut. 5:29).
Men promise themselves much success in the ways of sin. Satan, too, holds out the prospect of happiness and satisfaction as an enticement to men to transgress God’s commandments. All these hopes, however, are false. There cannot be any real happiness or prosperity in the way of disobedience. We must learn, either by precept or experience, that the way of transgressors is hard. If we refuse to heed the warnings of God’s Word concerning the evil nature and fruits of sin, then we will go on to discover by sore experience that it is an evil thing and a bitter sin against God.
The children of Israel had to learn this lesson in the wilderness. How often they brought the judgments of the God of Israel upon themselves because of their disobedience! Surely if anything was impressed upon their minds it was this — that God, who is a holy God, will not suffer sin to go unpunished. Moses left Israel in no doubt of the fact that disobedience and backsliding would mean God’s displeasure. (Lev. 26:14-43; Deut. 28:15-68).
How different their experience might have been had they acted differently! This is clear from the words: “O that there were such an heart in them . . . that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever.” (Deut. 5:29). God is a promising God to those who obey Him. The obedience of faith shall be rewarded. God, as Israel’s Covenant God, was a promising God. It is as a God revealing Himself in Christ Jesus that He holds out the promise of good and blessing to all who trust in Him. It would be well with the children of Israel so long as they acknowledged, honoured, feared and served the Lord. It was not mere outward service which the Lord looked for but heart obedience — “The Lord looketh upon the heart.” If they were obedient to His revealed will then the blessings which the Lord had promised would be granted to them. “Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kind, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” (See Deut. 28:3-13; also Lev. 26:3:12).
It would truly be well with Israel if they obeyed the voice of the Lord, for the Lord was to bless them — and if the Lord blessed them then they would be blessed indeed. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22). The Lord, the covenant-keeping God of Israel, who possesses all blessings and bestows them when and where He will, promises the righteous that it shall not only be well with them but also that it shall be well with their children. What an encouragement this was to serve Him. The promise implied that generations yet unborn would call Him blessed and would be blessed by Him and in Him. How little do men running in the way of disobedience reflect on the misery they are in process of bringing, not only upon themselves, but also upon their children. How encouraging it is, on the other hand, for the godly to consider that there is a promise of good not only to themselves but also to their children after them. It is encouraging for them also to remember that the work of grace can often be traced in families even for many generations. “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39).
Finally, we see that the blessings promised to this people and to their children are not merely the transitory ones of this life but the enduring ones of God’s grace, which are for eternity. It was to be well with them and with their children for ever. They were to be blessed for time and for eternity. Gospel blessings are worth possessing. They will never become common-place or cease to yield the satisfaction which they at first afforded to the believing soul. Rather will they become increasingly precious. The blessings of the Covenant will never fade. Eternal blessedness for the redeemed soul will mean the eternal enjoyment of the blessings of the everlasting covenant which are laid up in Jesus Christ.
Do we desire to possess the good which the Lord is holding out to us in His Word? Do we desire that it would be well with us and with our children for ever? Then let us yield gospel obedience to the commands and invitations of the Word of God. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isa. 55:7). If we are put in possession of the blessings of the everlasting covenant it will never give us ground for vain-glorious boasting, but we will be brought to say with David: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” (1 Chrom. 17:16).