 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. 2 He said,
“The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand. 3 Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you, 4 when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. 5 Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. 6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few.” 7 And this he said of Judah: “Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries.” 8 And of Levi he said, “Give to Levi[h] your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah; 9 who said of his father and mother, ‘I regard them not’; he disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed your word and kept your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. 11 Bless, O Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again.” 12 Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God[i] surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” 13 And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the Lord be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath, 14 with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months, 15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills, 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers. 17 A firstborn bull —he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.” 18 And of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. 19 They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.” 20 And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. 21 He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments for Israel.” 22 And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion's cub that leaps from Bashan.” 23 And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake[l] and the south.” 24 And of Asher he said, “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be. 26 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. 27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’ 28 So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. 29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.” Meditation God’s purpose and plans go beyond the limitations of His leaders. Wisdom compels godly leaders to focus their people on Jesus Christ, His promises, blessings, and purposes. Moses led Israel out of Egypt but he would not lead them into the promised land. Standing at the limitations of his life, the land, and his leadership, Moses leaves God’s people with a blessing. Moses’ blessing is anchored in God’s past faithfulness, meeting Israel personally at Mt Sinai with love, care, and authority (1-5). The crescendo of the blessing swings from past faithfulness to future fruitfulness as Moses provides a glimpse of the future for Israel and their life in the Promised Land. God will be with them as their helper, shield, sword, and salvation (26-29). The meat in the middle includes blessings for each individual tribe. As Jacob blessed his children in Genesis 49, so too Moses mediates God’s blessings for the twelve tribes of Jacob. The blessing of God is a personal experience in the present that is anchored in God’s past faithfulness and confident of future fruitfulness flowing from God’s steadfast love. Moses sent God’s people into the promised land. Jesus sends His disciples into all the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Moses stands on the faithfulness of God to extend God’s blessing to Israel. Jesus is the faithfulness of God in whom all God’s blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). Moses was a leader with limitations. Jesus is limitless in life and love, resurrected and extending grace, inviting us to experience His faithfulness through trusting His promises and purposes. Richly Dwelling -Which parts of Moses’ blessings stand out to you the most? Why? -Where do you struggle with your limitations in life? How can these limitations be an invitation to immerse yourself in the limitless life and love of Jesus Christ? -Jesus blesses His people and sends them into all the world to be a blessing to the nations, making disciples. Where can you respond to God’s grace by extending His blessing? Be specific. Key Verse 1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. Comments are closed.
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