It was time to say goodbye, and Moses was very realistic about the people he was leaving behind.  He knew how Israel would behave once he was gone. The song God taught him in Deuteronomy 32 spelled out the character of the nation and predicted dark times ahead.

But Moses still loved his people and he didn’t want his last words to be sad and pessimistic, so in Deuteronomy 33 he blessed them.

The Blessings Israel Shared

Moses remembered Mount Sinai and the stunning experiences Israel had when God revealed himself.

“The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran.” Deuteronomy 33:2

The glory of God’s presence on Mount Sinai was so immense that two other mountains in the distance radiated God’s light back toward Israel across the plains. Mount Seir and Mount Paran shone like the rising sun, reflecting God’s glory.

“He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.” Deuteronomy 33:2

Moses saw uncounted numbers of angels on the mountain with God. The writer of Hebrews later referred to the story of Mount Sinai when he wrote about the eternal home we have in Christ.

“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant” Hebrews 12:18-24

What Israel saw at Mount Sinai belongs to us, too. We will all see God’s immense glory someday!

God Loves His People

There were people in Israel who loved the Lord, who worshiped him and bowed down at his feet. They listened to the law that Moses gave and made God their king.

Moses saw how God loved those people, and how he held them in his hand.

“Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they bow down and from you receive instruction.” Deuteronomy 33:3

Moses Blesses the Tribes

Deuteronomy 33:6-25

Among the last words Israel heard from Moses were his blessings for the tribes. He prayed over them and then pronounced what God had in mind for each of them.

Reuben was going to live outside Canaan, on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moses prayed they would be safe and that their numbers would remain strong.

Judah was the tribe of prayer and action. They were the tribe into which Jesus was born later, and, like Judah, he came to his own people and defended his Father’s cause. God was his help.

Levi belonged exclusively to God. Their loyalty to him was higher than their loyalty to their families. They guarded the Law and performed sacred sacrifices. God defended them.

The tribe of Simeon was missing from Moses’s list. Simeon and Levi were both cursed by Jacob after they murdered the men of Shechem and Jacob prophesied that they would be scattered throughout Israel.

Levi was scattered throughout Israel, but only because God set them apart for himself after they rallied to Moses’s side and put to death idolaters in Exodus 32:25-29.

Simeon never did anything to redeem themselves the way Levi did. Their numbers dwindled until they were gradually absorbed into the tribe of Judah.

God shielded, Benjamin, the beloved son of his father’s right hand. Part of Jerusalem was located in Benjamin and Solomon’s Temple was later built on the mountain there.

Zebulun and Issachar were blessed with riches from the sea and the land. Zebulun was located on the Mediterranean coast and Issachar lived in tents while grazing their animals. They offered the sacrifices of the righteous.

The warriors of Gad were successful in expanding their territory by driving out the pagan inhabitants east of the Jordan.

Dan protected their beautiful hill country like a lion coming out of the mountains.

The tribe of Naphtali found favor with God and settled near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus spent most of his time there.

Asher was a strong tribe that found favor with other tribes. They had wealth and strength.

The Final Words of Moses

Moses blessed both God and Israel with his final words.

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds with his majesty.” Deuteronomy 33:26

Jeshurun was a poetic name for Israel that only God and Moses ever used. It shows up three times in Deuteronomy, 32:15, 33:5, 33:26, and once in Isaiah 44:2. Each time it speaks to the loving relationship God had with his people. He was the God who would ride across the heavens on clouds of majesty just to help his people.

“Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” Deuteronomy 33:29

The Death of Moses

In 2019 my husband and I rode to the top of Mt. Nebo in Jordan in a bus. The mountain is rugged and high; it would have been a challenging hike for a 120 year old man, but from its summit there are unobstructed views in every direction.

Moses didn’t need supernatural assistance to see north into Gilead or across to the west into Dan. Beyond Dan lay the beautiful lands that belonged to Ephraim, Manasseh and Naphtali. Directly in front of him were the hills and plains of Judah, where Benjamin and Simeon would also be nestled in. Just below him, Moses could see Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan River.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ ‘I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.’” Deuteronomy 34:4

Moses died there. He was still a strong man when God took his life, and buried him in Moab. To this day no one knows where the grave of Moses lies.

The Israelites probably watched Moses walk out of camp that last time, and when he didn’t return, they knew what he had told them was true. They were going into the Promised Land without him. They stopped everything and mourned for thirty days.

No Other Prophet Like Moses

There has never been another man like Moses. It seems appropriate that the Scriptures should provide the epitaph to his amazing life.

“Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.” Deuteronomy 34:10-12

What a privilege to have studied the life of Moses together for so many weeks.

Joshua

Joshua was commissioned by Moses in the presence of God to take over the leadership of Israel and God gave him the spirit of wisdom. The Israelites trusted Joshua and were ready to follow him and do all that the Lord had commanded through Moses.

The book of Joshua started in today’s reading, but we will pick that story up tomorrow.