Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:43

Deuteronomy 28:43 describes a consequence of Israel's disobedience to God's covenant, specifically the descent into subjugation and loss of national standing. This verse is part of a lengthy discourse by Moses, outlining the blessings that would follow obedience and the curses that would accompany disobedience. The "foreigners" (Hebrew: ger) here likely refer to alien populations within the land of Israel, or potentially to conquering nations, who, due to Israel's spiritual and societal decay, would gain economic and political ascendancy, while the Israelites themselves would experience a reversal of fortunes, becoming subservient and impoverished. This pronouncement is not a divine decree of perpetual inferiority but a stark warning of the natural trajectory when a nation turns away from its divine mandate and relational covenant with God, leading to internal weakness and external vulnerability.

Context and Background

This verse is situated within the "curses" section of Deuteronomy 28, which enumerates forty-nine specific divine judgments that would befall Israel if they failed to keep the commandments of the Lord (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). These curses are presented as the inverse of the blessings detailed in the preceding verses (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Moses is delivering this sermon to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the Promised Land. The purpose is to impress upon them the seriousness of their covenant obligations and the profound consequences of their choices. The inclusion of the foreigner in this curse highlights a specific type of societal degradation: not only would Israel be oppressed by external enemies, but even those residing within their borders, who had not originally possessed the land, would eventually surpass them.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary themes are:

• Covenantal Consequences: The verse underscores the conditional nature of God's covenant with Israel. Obedience brought blessing; disobedience brought severe judgment.
• Societal Degradation: It depicts a society in decline, where its own people lose status and power, becoming subordinate to others within their own territory.
• Loss of Divine Favor: The reversal of fortunes signifies a withdrawal of God's protective and elevating presence due to Israel's sin.
• Divine Justice: The curses are presented as just responses to the breaking of solemn vows made before God and the nations.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse serves as a potent reminder that a nation's or individual's prosperity and standing are ultimately tied to their relationship with the divine. When individuals or communities prioritize worldly pursuits over spiritual faithfulness, they risk losing their spiritual elevation and succumbing to lesser influences. The "foreigner" can be understood analogously as sin, temptation, or worldly values that, if allowed to gain a foothold, can rise in prominence within a person's life, pushing out righteousness and true spiritual authority. The verse calls for constant vigilance in maintaining one's covenant walk with God, lest one's spiritual life be overtaken by less desirable forces.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This pronouncement finds echoes throughout the Old Testament. The periods of Israelite history marked by oppression from surrounding nations, such as the Philistines, the Moabites, or the Babylonians, can be seen as manifestations of these curses. The exile of Israel and Judah into foreign lands is the ultimate fulfillment of the threat of subjugation. In the New Testament, while the Mosaic covenant's curses and blessings are understood in a new light through Christ, the principle of sowing and reaping, and the spiritual consequences of sin, remain consistent. For believers, the "foreigner" can represent the flesh or the world's systems that seek to dominate the spirit.

Analogies

One analogy for Deuteronomy 28:43 is a garden that is neglected. If the gardener ceases to tend to it, weeds (the "foreigners") will begin to choke out the cultivated plants (Israel). The weeds will grow higher and more pervasive, while the desirable plants will wither and shrink. Another analogy is a company that loses its competitive edge. If its leadership becomes complacent and its employees lose focus and discipline, external competitors will inevitably rise, gain market share, and eventually dominate the company, leading to its decline.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 28:15-19: These verses immediately precede the curses, outlining the blessings for obedience, which include being "put in command over the nations" and being "the head and not the tail." Deuteronomy 28:43 presents the stark opposite of this promised blessing.
• Leviticus 26:14-17: This chapter also details blessings and curses for covenant faithfulness, with similar themes of subjugation and oppression appearing among the curses.
• Psalm 106:40-43: This psalm recounts Israel's history, noting how God "gave them into the hand of the nations" and how their enemies "ruled over them" due to their unfaithfulness.
• Romans 6:16: This New Testament verse speaks to the principle of enslavement to sin: "Do you not know that if you surrender yourselves to anyone to obey him, you are slaves to the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness." This echoes the idea of rising dominance by an external force due to a loss of self-governance.