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This week’s Torah portion is entitled, V’zot HaB’racha, “And This Is the Blessing.” It contains words spoken by Moses as a blessing over the nation of Israel, a song of farewell, with the Promised Land in sight, before his death.
In chapter 33 Moses describes a picture of God’s splendor and majesty, coming down from Mount Sinai and appeared from Mount Seir. The Lord shone forth from Mount Paran, coming with a flaming fire at his right hand. This image evokes a sense of Adonai’s divine power and the favor that encompasses the nation of Israel.
Moses emphasizes Adonai’s faithfulness, enduring love, grace, and mercy for Israel, which is the foundation for the blessings that follow. Each tribe receives a unique blessing, highlighting its strength and foreshadowing its future. Moses’ words were not of despair, but a vibrant song of blessing.
Reuben would live and not die, and Moses prayed that his people would not be few.
Moses prayed that God would hear Judah’s prayers and give them victory on the battlefield against their enemies. This is the royal tribe that our Messiah Yeshua would come from.
You have given the sacred lots, Your Thummim and Urim to the tribe of Levi because they observed Your word and kept Your covenant. They were tested and proved at Massah and contended at the waters of Meribah. The Levites obeyed Adonai’s words and guarded His covenant. They gave no special treatment to family members and were given the privilege of teaching the Torah and precepts of the Lord to Israel.
To Benjamin, the Lord’s beloved, may they live in security with Adonai, who shields them all day long.
To Joseph, who was the representative of both Ephraim and Manasseh, he gives the greatest possible abundance of earthly blessings, which include the prosperity of a good life. May these blessings rest on his head, the crown of the one distinguished among his brothers.
To the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar, rejoice Zebulun, in your travels and Issachar, in your tents. They shall call people to the Mountain; there they shall offer righteous sacrifices and benefit from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.
The tribe of Gad was like a lion and mighty warrior, and the one who enlarges Gad’s borders would be blessed. This tribe took the best land and a leader’s share. They carried out the Lord’s justice and obey His commands.
The tribe of Dan was like a young lion, growing in strength, even as a young lion grows and learns the skills of the hunt, signifying the strength and power of the tribe.
Moses said to the tribe of Naphtali, be prosperous and satisfied with favor, and be full of the Lord’s blessings. May they possess the west and the south.
Asher means happy. This tribe was favored with material prosperity more than any other tribe. The blessing is derived from his name. He will dip his foot in olive oil, symbolic of his abundant blessings.
At the conclusion of the blessings, Moses declares: “There is no one like the God of Israel.”
He speaks of the greatness, and splendor of Adonai, as He rides the heavens in His majesty to help His people Israel. Moses reminds us that God is completely superior, inspiring fear and reverence.
Chapter 34 opens with God showing Moses the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo. Moses longed to enter, but he is reminded that he will not cross the Jordan River because of his past disobedience. Although his vision is clear, and he is strong and physically fit to travel, God informs him that his time had come to an end. There are no dramatic details, simply the Lord buried him in the land of Moab at the age of 120. The Israelis mourned 30 days for him, and Joshua the son of Nun, a man full of God’s spirit, and wisdom became the new leader.
“There has never been another prophet like Moses, in Israel, the one who knew God face to face.”
Moses promised that the Lord would raise up for his people, a prophet from among them. The anticipation of this prophet would continue throughout the Old Testament. Yeshua our Messiah is the promised prophet. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, our Prophet, High Priest, and King.
Closing thoughts:
Deuteronomy is filled with constant reminders, that we can trust God completely, even during the most difficult times. Just as Moses reminded Israel, let us remember the great things that God has done for us in our past, and present, how He saved us from a life of sin and death, and holds our future in His hands. He’s always faithful and never changes.
This book should also remind us that it’s a blessing to live in the presence of Adonai, the Sovereign, Majestic, Righteous, and Holy One, Creator of all things, and the lover of His own. We can rest assured that God will take care of us, but we must serve and worship Him His way.
We must live our lives before Him according to His way, the way of life, not our selfish way, the way of error and death. As His children we have the Holy Spirit living within us, and guiding us, if we’d only submit our way to Him in close fellowship, allowing His Spirit to fully fill our hearts so that there’s no room for the exploitation of the enemy.