There are many word phrases we humans have invented to describe passing from this life to life in heaven such as;

“God needed him in heaven”

“She got her final promotion”

“No more pain for him who suffered much here”

These are but a few things the grieving say to ease their minds when feeling awkward and anxious upon the passing of a friend or family member.  And why do we always say, “Oh, she or he looks good.”  The body is empty of the soul!  The person we knew is not there!  We get a new body in the transfer from death to life! (2 Corinthians 5) I’m counting on that truth!

As former pastors, we’ve helped grieving families through many funeral preparations.  What I have noticed over the years, especially among believers, is that when death comes; our judgement finally ceases of the deceased.  Only “good” words, through the stories recalled, are said to honor the person who has passed from this life to the next.  (I sometimes wonder why we can’t honor each other with these words while we are still alive?!)

However, before death comes, believers who follow Jesus, seem to know their passing is near. What flows from their hearts and over their lips are more words of encouragement for loved ones who will be left behind with reminders of who God is and why they followed Him. This also seems to be part of God’s preparation in our transfer.  

God is preparing Moses for his transfer from death to life with Him.  Yesterday we read of God’s Song to Moses that has become a lesson in theology, history, and personal obedience, with several strong warnings included. In today’s passage, God gives Moses the final blessing to be said over each of the twelve tribes of Israel.  This blessing is saturated with God’s grace and mercy. It’s quite a contrast to the “blessing” Jacob gave his twelve sons before he died (See Genesis 49), revealing their hidden character and exposing sin. Moses opened and closed his blessing by extolling the greatness of the Lord!

Deuteronomy 33

Moses Blesses the Tribes

This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. ² He said:

“The Lord came from Sinai
    and dawned over them from Seir;
    he shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came with myriads of holy ones
    from the south, from his mountain slopes.
³ Surely it is you who love the people;
    all the holy ones are in your hand.
At your feet they all bow down,
    and from you receive instruction,
⁴ the law that Moses gave us,
    the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
⁵ He was king over Jeshurun
    when the leaders of the people assembled,
    along with the tribes of Israel.

⁶ “Let Reuben live and not die,
    nor his people be few.”

⁷ And this he said about Judah:

“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah;
    bring him to his people.
With his own hands he defends his cause.
    Oh, be his help against his foes!”

⁸ About Levi he said:

“Your Thummim and Urim belong
    to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
    you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
⁹ He said of his father and mother,
    ‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
    or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
    and guarded your covenant.
¹⁰ He teaches your precepts to Jacob
    and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
¹¹ Bless all his skills, Lord,
    and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Strike down those who rise against him,
    his foes till they rise no more.”

¹² About Benjamin he said:

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
    for he shields him all day long,
    and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”

¹³ About Joseph he said:

“May the Lord bless his land
    with the precious dew from heaven above
    and with the deep waters that lie below;
¹⁴ with the best the sun brings forth
    and the finest the moon can yield;
¹⁵ with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
    and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
¹⁶ with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
    and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
    on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
¹⁷ In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
    his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
    even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
    such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

¹⁸ About Zebulun he said:

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
    and you, Issachar, in your tents.
¹⁹ They will summon peoples to the mountain
    and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;
they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
    on the treasures hidden in the sand.”

²⁰ About Gad he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!
    Gad lives there like a lion,
    tearing at arm or head.
²¹ He chose the best land for himself;
    the leader’s portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
    he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,
    and his judgments concerning Israel.”

²² About Dan he said:

“Dan is a lion’s cub,
    springing out of Bashan.”

²³ About Naphtali he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord
    and is full of his blessing;
    he will inherit southward to the lake.”

²⁴ About Asher he said:

“Most blessed of sons is Asher;
    let him be favored by his brothers,
    and let him bathe his feet in oil.
²⁵ The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
    and your strength will equal your days.

²⁶ “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
    who rides across the heavens to help you
    and on the clouds in his majesty.
²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
    saying, ‘Destroy them!’
²⁸ So Israel will live in safety;
    Jacob will dwell secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
    where the heavens drop dew.
²⁹ 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 will cower before you,
    and you will tread on their heights.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

These are the last written words of Moses, and they focus on the happiness of the people of God because of His blessings. As Moses finished blessing the tribes, he visualized the whole nation and the joy Israel ought to have because they know the true and living God. Their God isn’t a dead idol sitting in a temple; He rides the heavens to come to the aid of His people! The Psalms are full of same words!

But even more, God is Israel’s home and “dwelling place” (see Psalm 90:1), and they abide in Him no matter where they go. As we go forward by faith, he defeats the enemy and holds us up in the battle.

The Life of Moses

“In many respects, Moses comes across as a very Christlike person. Like Jesus, he was born into a godly home at a difficult time in Jewish history and, like Jesus, his life was threatened. When Moses gave up the treasures of Egypt, he was like Jesus, who became poor that He might share spiritual riches with many (2 Corinthians 8:9). Like Jesus, Moses was rejected by his people the first time he tried to help them (Exodus 2:11–15), but he was accepted by them when he came to them the second time (Exodus 4:29–31; Acts 7:23–36).

Israel rejected Christ at His first coming, but they will receive Him when He comes again (Zechariah 12:10—13:1). The only perfect example is Jesus Christ, but when we read about Moses, he reminds us of our Lord and encourages us to become more like our Savior in all things.” –Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Study Bible

As I write this, it is Saturday before Resurrection Sunday.  I am recalling the words Jesus said in His blessing with commands to His disciples before leaving earth to ascend back to heaven;

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Jesus, John 14:12-13

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” –Jesus, John 13:34-35

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20

God wants us to be prepared for death with hope of eternal life! The first step we must take is to believe in Jesus and believe in faith that Jesus died to pay the debt of our sins and remove them from our history forever! Believe, repent in Jesus Name, and salvation comes!  Upon believing, God sends the gift of His Holy Spirit to live in us, guiding us to all that is true so that we may live a life holy and pleasing to God.  We have a Helper and Counselor who will never leave us!  That is so like God!

Grief is normal but for believers in Jesus; despair is not.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—Jesus, John 16:33

Bonus:  Jesus IS coming back!

Lord,

Thank you for the words of Moses, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, to reveal who you are with your purpose and plan to save us. Thank you for cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, refreshing our souls, and continually restoring the joy of our salvation found only in you.  Our hope, trust and faith is built on you, the Solid Rock that does not move. Thank you for loving us the way you do. Thank you for leading us in all seasons and through all phases of life here in preparation for life there with you someday. God, you are amazing!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Tomorrow—God buries Moses’ body!