V’Zot HaBerachah – “And This Is The Blessing”

This week’s Torah portion is V’Zot HaBerachah, meaning “And this is the blessing”. It completes the annual cycle of Torah readings and covers Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12.

The parasha recounts the blessings Moses gave each of the twelve tribes of Israel before his death. The structure of the blessings is similar in fashion to the way Jacob blessed his twelve sons in Genesis 49, Moses assigns and empowers each tribe with its individual role within the community of Israel. Since Moses was the one who recorded Jacob’s blessing, it’s not unlikely to think he consciously modeled his blessing after Jacob’s.

In previous chapters, Moses recounted the Lord’s anger towards Israel because of their collective sins. Here at the end, he leaves them his peace and blessings. This reminded me a bit of Yeshua’s words to His disciples in Luke chapter 24 where He blessed them, assured them, and sent them forward with assigned roles.

Moses begins his blessing with a description of the mighty appearances of God when giving them the Law, and the great advantage Israel had by it. He then blesses each tribe individually and uniquely. One tribe was given a blessing of strength; to another, protection, while some were promised the best of the land. Each blessing was appropriate to the tribe itself and even to their future.

One could say that in some ways these blessings were tailor-made, which gratefully is exactly how Adonai relates to us. Each of us is unique in our creation.  We each have different situations, and different paths we walk and to which we are called. Adonai does not bless His children out of favoritism, but instead by what He has in store for us individually. As Rabbi Paul wrote, there are many parts to the body, each with unique functioning. The Body of Messiah is the same way. We all have a role to play, and Adonai will bless us, equip us and order our steps differently to accomplish His will.

So when we see others being blessed in a way that we may not be, instead of comparing ourselves, or being jealous, or wondering what’s wrong with us, (or doubting God), we should understand that we each serve Him differently, and Adonai’s relationship is unique with each of us and what He considers most needed in your life may not be what is needed in my life at the moment.

I was particularly drawn to the guidance given to the Levites. Moses prayed for wisdom and discernment to be revealed through God’s servants. The Levites were to have an educational role in the interpretation and application of God’s Law. They were responsible for Israel’s formal system of worship. The Levites’ role was like that of today’s pastors and teachers. They led the people in worship, and they taught the Word of God. As such, they were also held to a stricter standard. It’s interesting to see what Moses prayed for them at the end of their blessing: “LORD, help their tribe to grow strong; Be pleased with what they do. Crush all their enemies and let them never rise again.”

The focus was on strength and protection. This shows that spiritual leaders would experience weakness and discouragement at some point. It anticipates opposition from people determined to cause discord and destruction. Moses refers to these people as “enemies,” yet is confident that God will prevail.

Chapter 34 describes Moses ascending Mount Nebo, from where he was allowed to see the Promised Land. Scripture tells us that Moses the servant of God died there in the Land of Moab according to God’s will, and that “no man knows his burial place to this day.” The Torah concludes by attesting that “Since that time there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face to face.”

There are many parallels between Moses and Yeshua our Savior. Just as there was a 400-year interval before Adonai sent Moses to deliver Israel from bondage, so too 400 years passed between the time of Malachi’s last prophecy and Adonai sent His Son Yeshua to deliver Israel from her ultimate bondage to sin and death. Both Moses and Yeshua knew Adonai Panim l’ Panim (Face-to-Face). Adonai spoke directly to both Moses and Yeshua, and each was a singular, authoritative spokesman for God.

Each mediated a covenant of blood; Moses facilitated the earlier covenant and Yeshua the New Covenant. Just as Moses, by God’s direction, instituted Passover as a means by which death passed over those Israelis who trusted in God’s promise of the blood of the lamb, so too Yeshua offered Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Just as Moses brought about a resurrection, as it were, of the people of Israel passing safely through the Red Sea, so Yeshua became the First Fruits of the resurrection when He rose from the dead.

In Deuteronomy 18, Moses declared, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen.”

I tell you the truth, Yeshua is that prophet.

In Yeshua’s Kingdom, it is those who lead with humility who are considered strong. Victory over one’s enemies comes, not by defeating them physically, but by praying for them. Those who please God do so by starting with faith, not by starting with works. We need leaders today who allow God to fight their battles; rock-solid, humble, prayer warriors who trust God completely, and do not give up, but are confident that they can do all things through Yeshua who strengthens them. I pray Adonai will raise up mighty spiritual leaders in these last days to help us on our journey to our eternal homes in Heaven.

May Adonai Bless you All. Shabbat shalom!