Deuteronomy 33:26-29
- "There is no one like the
God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across
the skies in majestic splendor. The
eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He thrusts
out the enemy before you; it is he who cries, 'Destroy them!' So Israel will live in safety, prosperous
Jacob in security, in a land of grain and wine, while the heavens drop down dew.
How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else
is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your protecting shield and your
triumphant sword! Your enemies will bow low before you, and you will trample on
their backs!"
Moses has been traveling so long with the children of Israel…he
takes on the Earthly role of father in his last few days on Earth. Just as Jacob blessed each of his 12 sons…Moses
takes the time to bless each tribe of Israel before he climbs the mountain to
take his last breath. Some tribes receive
long life…others protection from their enemies…and others receive the best of
the land in Canaan….but because they all had been chosen by God to be his
people…they all received his love and blessing for a full and rich life.
He ends his blessing with a proclamation…that God is our
refuge…our only true security. Moses
knew that all the Earthly blessing would pass away…but God in his splendor was
really the only thing that could protect and love them forever. Every Earthly blessing that they were about
to receive would eventually pass away…but the love of the father was to be
their security forever.
We’ve all been there…we have taken a side road that looked
very prosperous…taken our eyes off Jesus for just a bit…and held a little too
tightly to some Earthly gain….money…a car…a house….or maybe a
relationship. It crumbled around us like
a house of cards…and left us holding an emptiness that sent our soul searching
for God again.
God was watching for us….riding the clouds…holding out those
arms that Moses said would always be there…cause he knows our selfish flesh
steers us the wrong direction more than it leads us to his love. And as the thing we gripped for happiness or
security collapses around us…he catches us in mid fall...and waits for us to
just relax in his goodness. He wipes
away our tears of remorse…and forgives us…and reinstates us and gives us that
second or fiftieth chance to get it right again.
The apostle John understood Moses’ words here….for he wrote
in 1 John 2:17 …. “And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who
does the will of God abides forever.” He
knew that nothing lasts in this world but the love of God…and the sooner we all
understand it…the more content we will be with the crazy world we live in these
days.
Father… thank you this morning for your endless love….for
catching me all the many times I have chased after a worldly thing…and realized
you were not there. Forgive me for being so shallow…and thinking that any ‘thing’
you have blessed me with can substitute for your love and grace. Help me to be more focused…to look for you…and
ask you always what you want me to do. Help
me to put my hope and trust in nothing but you from this moment forward. Amen.
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