Deuteronomy 33:13ff - The Last Blessing of Moses (2)

Introduction

We started talking last Sunday night about the last blessing of Moses.

Israel was about to go into the PL, but before they crossed the Jordan led by Joshua, Moses blessed the individual tribes the way Jacob had blessed his individual sons hundreds of years earlier.

We covered the blessing given to Reuben, Judah, Levi, and Benjamin.

Tonight we pick up with the blessing of Joseph in v. 13…

[READING - Deuteronomy 33:13-17]

Deuteronomy 33:13–17 NASB95

13 Of Joseph he said, “Blessed of the Lord be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath, 14 And with the choice yield of the sun, And with the choice produce of the months. 15 “And with the best things of the ancient mountains, And with the choice things of the everlasting hills, 16 And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, And to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. 17 “As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

[PRAYER]

[TS]…

Major Ideas

The Blessing on Joseph (Deut. 33:13-17)

[EXP] The blessing on Joseph speaks to that tribe’s material prosperity and military might.

It’s material prosperity is described as what is choice, best, or chief.

It’s land would be watered with the choice dew of heaven, with the deep lying beneath—a picture of the source of all waters reminding us of the mist rising from the earth and watering the whole surface of the ground in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:6).

The choice yield of the sun would bring forth the choice produce of the harvests for Joseph. Ancient mountains would send down the best things, and the hills the choice things of the earth in full.

The military might of Joseph is also described in powerful terms.

First Chronicles 5:1-2 says…

1 Chronicles 5:1–2 NIV84

1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)—

Though the ruler of God’s people would come from the tribe of Judah, the blessing and birthright of the firstborn belonged to Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, and by extension to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

As God’s people enter the PL, Ephraim and Manasseh will be like a powerful bull gorging its enemies toward destruction.

But be sure to notice though that all of this favor would come from Him who dwelt in the bush.

It was YHWH who dwelt in a burning bush when He called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt (cf., Ex. 3:2-4).

It would be YHWH who would bring this material prosperity and military might to the tribe of Joseph.

[APP] All that we have comes from God. All our strength comes from God. All our wealth comes from God.

And all that we have is to be used for His glory.

[TS]…

The Blessing on Zebulun and Issachar (Deut. 33:18-19)

Deuteronomy 33:18–19 NASB95

18 Of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, And, Issachar, in your tents. 19 “They will call peoples to the mountain; There they will offer righteous sacrifices; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.”

[EXP] The tribes of Zebulun and Issachar are called to rejoice in every aspect of their lives, in their going forth and in their tents.

The meaning of the first two lines of v. 19 may mean that they will be so blessed that they will call others to join them in rejoicing by way of sacrificial feasts.

Their abundance will come by way of the sea, by way of maritime commerce, and by way of the hidden treasures of the sand, which may refer to the selling of shellfish, dyes made from shellfish, or even glass made from sand.

[APP] When we are blessed, it is right if we rejoice in the Lord and wrong if we do not.

When we are blessed, it is right if we rejoice in the Lord and call others to rejoice along with us.

[TS]…

The Blessing on Gad (Deut. 33:20-21)

Deuteronomy 33:20–21 NASB95

20 Of Gad he said, “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lies down as a lion, And tears the arm, also the crown of the head. 21 “Then he provided the first part for himself, For there the ruler’s portion was reserved; And he came with the leaders of the people; He executed the justice of the Lord, And His ordinances with Israel.”

[EXP] Gad had already received its territory east of the Jordan River, but it still had responsibilities in the upcoming conquest of the Promised Land.

These blessings indicate that Gad will plan an important part in taking the land and deserve a lion’s share (or ruler’s portion) of the spoils.

This blessing may picture Gad leading Israel militarily during the conquest, executing the justice of the Lord, and performing the Lord’s ordinances with Israel even though it had already received its land.

[APP] When we have already been blessed, we have a responsibility to help those who haven’t recieved their’s yet.

[TS]…

The Blessing on Dan (Deut. 33:22)

Deuteronomy 33:22 NASB95

22 Of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s whelp, That leaps forth from Bashan.”

[EXP] When Jacob blessed his sons, he described Judah as a lion’s whelp or lion’s cub. That expression is now applied to Dan. Dan might have been small at this point, but the tribe would later be powerful when it had grown to full strength.

In Bashan, the northernmost region of the Promised Land, Dan would settle, and from there Dan would leap at Israel’s enemies.

[APP] If we are small and weak compared to others, God can grow us and make us strong.

He sees our potential and will being it about as we follow Him.

[TS]…

The Blessing on Naphtali (Deut. 33:23)

Deuteronomy 33:23 NASB95

23 Of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the Lord, Take possession of the sea and the south.”

[EXP] One paraphrase says that Naphtali will be brimming with blessings, even spilling over with God’s blessings.

Other translations say that Naphtali will be sated with favor.

This tribe will make its home south of Dan along the western side of the Sea of Galilee.

[APP] As God’s people in Jesus Christ His Son, we are brimming with blessings.

Let’s pray that we would be satisfied with them.

[TS]…

The Blessing on Asher (Deut. 33:24-25)

Deuteronomy 33:24–25 NASB95

24 Of Asher he said, “More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, And may he dip his foot in oil. 25 “Your locks will be iron and bronze, And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.

[EXP] Asher will experience fertility and prosperity. That fertility and prosperity is pictured here as a foot covered in oil as it pedaled an oil press.

Locks of iron and bronze denote strength, a strength that will make Asher’s walk through life a leisurely stroll rather than a hobbled struggle.

[APP] Moses prayed certain things for certain tribes, and the Lord has certain things for certain people.

Some of us will walk through life with a hobble. Others will stroll leisurely. Most of us will experience a mix of both.

Obedience to the Lord will be our strength no matter the day that comes our way.

[TS]…

General Praise and Blessing (Israel’s Defender) (Deut. 33:26-29)

Deuteronomy 33:26–29 NASB95

26 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majesty. 27 “The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, ‘Destroy!’ 28 “So Israel dwells in security, The fountain of Jacob secluded, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens also drop down dew. 29 “Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”

[EXP] All the blessings on individual tribes conclude with a call for the entire community to rejoice in YHWH as Israel’s defender.

In vv. 26-27, His help rides across the heavens; His majesty floods the skies! Because He is eternal, He is the eternal refuge of His people! Because He is everlasting, His arms undergird His people everlastingly! As He has in the past, He will drive the enemies of His people out when they enter the PL.

Verse 28 says that Israel dwells in security—its fountain secluded, its land fruitful and watered by God from the heavens.

Verse 29 says that Israel is blessed. The KJV says, “Happy art thou, O Israel!”

Israel ought to be happy because the Lord has saved them!

Israel ought to be happy because His shield is their help!

Israel ought to be happy because His sword is their majesty!

Israel ought to be happy because its enemies will be subdued, and they shall tread upon the places where their enemies once worshipped their idols!

And all of this because there is no one like YHWH, the God of Jeshurun, the God of the upright, the God of Israel!

[ILLUS] I like to listen to various podcasts. Once while flipping through the millions of podcast options, I saw a podcast called, “Ten Percent Happier.” As I kept flipping through, I saw another one called, “Twenty Percent Happier.”

I haven’t listened to either one, so I can’t give you a review, but God desires for us to be more than ten or twenty percent happier.

God desires for us to be eternally happy in Jesus!

[APP] Jesus is the true Promised Land, the true place of God’s blessing, the true rest for the people of God. That’s why its eternally crucial that we are in Christ Jesus!

He is our help.

He is our dwelling place.

He has destroyed the enemies of sin and death.

He is our security, our fountain of living water, our abundance, our blessing, our salvation, our shield and sword, and our victory.

And only by following Him are we made truly happy.

[TS]…

Conclusion

[PRAYER]