Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. (Deuteronomy 33:1)
As this chapter begins, it describes what happened on the very last day of Moses’ life. After all of the hardship, frustration and disappointment he had experienced on behalf of these people, he spend the last moments of his existence on earth blessing the people. As a dying Jacob did with his sons, Moses followed in the custom established by the patriarch to bless them before leaving them. And like Jacob’s blessing upon his twelve sons, Moses’ blessing upon the tribes combined prophecy with the blessings. In short, this man had been a father to them and would not leave them before imparting words of life.
Now think of it — his last act was to bless the ones who were, indirectly, responsible for a provocation that prevented him from crossing into the land. It takes a mighty big man, or maybe we should say, a humble and obedient man to do that. Let’s be honest; most of us would have a hard time blessing those who have inflicted so much pain on us. However, though others might have been tempted to curse them, he blessed them. How could he, this shepherd called of God, do anything less than Balaam, the man who sought to curse Israel but could only bless?
And so we have a pattern established that should provoke us to consider, now, what we will do when our time to depart is at hand. Will we gather our family to bless them or to deride them? More importantly, however, we must consider what we are going to do today. In other words, will we speak blessing upon others or curses? As the people of God, we are admonished that our tongue should not be used for cursing and blessing but should always produce “sweet waters.” Easier said than done, especially if one is being persecuted. Nevertheless, we have an obligation to obey our Father in the matter. So, let’s close with these words from the Messiah:
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:44-45)
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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