Thurs.’s Devo - Moses Blesses the Tribes

Read: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25 Moses was about to die and gives a blessing to every tribe. First he gives us some insight into what he saw when God came to him on Mt. Sinai. He saw God’s glory and ten thousands of his angels. He saw flaming fire at God’s right hand. He gave them the law making him their king. *** This is what he said of the tribes: Reuben had lost his right as the first born because he went into to his father’s concubine, but Moses prayed his tribe would survive, even if they were few in number. *** He prayed that God would hear Judah’s voice and contend for him and help him to fight against his enemies. He prayed that Levi would have the answer from the Lord and commended them for choosing the Lord over their own family. He prayed that God would bless Levi’s hands and crush his enemies. *** Moses prayed that Benjamin would dwell in safety under the shadow of the Most High. He prayed that Joseph would be blessed with favor and the best of everything the earth and heaven had to offer. *** Zebulun was blessed with trade as they were situated by the sea. He prayed that Issachar would give to the Lord of their abundance. *** He blessed all who helped Gad because they went in and helped all the other tribes fight and possess their land. ** Dan never gets a good prophecy. Here he is described as an offspring of Bashan, the evil nation where Og was the king. In Joseph’s prophecy (Gen. 48) he is compared to a snake. *** Naphtali is blessed with favor and the fullness of the Lord. Asher is blessed with popularity with his brothers, safety and strength. *** Then Moses reminds them of who God is. He is their eternal dwelling place who holds them forever in his arms. He is the one who destroys their enemies. They were saved by the Lord who gave them the power to triumph over their enemies. *** In Luke, Jesus gives them two examples of people who were killed and suffered. It was believed that bad things happened to people because they deserved it, but Jesus explained that all who die without repenting of their sins meet the same fate. *** Like the story of the fig tree, God had had much patience and compassion on them, but there was a limit to his mercy. Judgement is inevitable to everyone. *** Jesus healed a woman who had been bound up by Satan and could not stand up straight. She had been like this for 18 years. Jesus healed her but the Pharisees objected because it was on the Sabbath. Jesus reminded them of how they would unbind their own donkeys and lead them to water on the Sabbath and this woman who was much more important than a donkey had been bound and just needed the “water of the Word.” *** Jesus then explained that the Kingdom of God would start very small and grow until many were being refreshed with its life. *** Lord, thank you that we are part of your kingdom. May we spread your love and provide healing and love to those who need it.