Here is out Bible Text for today, for our Lesson …
“And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.” Deuteronomy 33:1
Let me reprint our Verse now, highlighting (capitalizing) one word: “And this is the BLESSING, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.”
Moses did NOT die as a bitter old man! (Even though he is dying younger than necessary … due to a sin he had earlier committed in the eyes of God.) No resentment here, not a scintilla. (“Scintilla” has a Latin background, there meaning “particle of fire, spark, glittering speck, atom.” Wow!)
He (Moses) died BLESSING the children of Israel!
I am impressed with how much is said in the Old Testament (even under the reign of the strict Mosaic law) about the subject of BLESSINGS!
God one day taught His Priests, the Son sons Aaron, precisely HOW to bless the Jewish people.
“Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:23-26, King James Version, word for word! Amazing!
And when Jacob died, who was the literal father of the twelve sons of Israel … the patriarchs of the twelve Tribes of Israel … blessings poured forth from his aged mouth upon each of those twelve boys, already grown of course. Read Genesis 49 for the details.
This too … when Jesus died (on the Cross of Calvary), he sure did ensure Blessing upon anyone who would believe in His Name, accept Him as Lord of their life. Salvation eternal!
I am so thankful one can enter old age … joyfully.
In Christ Jesus at least, this is true.
Folks, there can be (actually I should say “there is”) POWER in our words.
“Death and life are in the POWER of the TONGUE: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” So teaches Solomon in Proverbs 18:21.
Let’s use our words (today I mean) to bless … wherever possible.
And not to CURSE!
Amen.
Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we shall go further into this great chapter of the Bible, Deuteronomy 33.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell