In Chapter 32 which Michelle covered yesterday, we saw Moses’ death foretold. At this point, he also knows that there is no pleading: he will not be entering the promised land “because [he and Aaron] broke faith with [God] in the presence of the Israelites.” While he cannot walk them in, he does something better: leaning on the favor he still has with the Most High God, he places a blessing over the Nation’s 12 tribes.

In a sense, Moses is finishing his duty as a shepherd and restoring a portion of his faithfulness by trusting in the power of God and His promises, and the power of a blessing. We don’t find a bitter man sentenced to death and disappointment today but rather one still believing in the power and promises of God.

Let’s dive in.

[Deuteronomy 33.1-29]

Moses' Final Blessing on Israel

1 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 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 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 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.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ In Genesis 49, Israel (Jacob) blesses his 12 children. Moses recorded this blessing. Do you think this was on his mind as he spoke over the Nation of Israel?

+ What beautiful reality do we see in verse 5 about who ruled over Israel?

+ In verse 29, he reminds them of a beautiful promise. What is it? How is it like the promise we receive by looking towards Christ’s finished work on the cross?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Has there ever been a time when you had to bless someone who was difficult? The Word says to even “bless those who persecute you”. Moses many times probably felt that the Nation of Israel sinned and disobeyed and caused him grief, but today we saw a great example of someone who does not withhold a blessing. Moses knew it was based on God’s faithfulness and goodness...not his or the people’s. Remember that God has richly blessed us and so consider praying today and blessing those who are more difficult in your life.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who can you tell about the Good News and the blessing waiting for all who believe?