Blessing After the Testing

In Deuteronomy 33, Moses is called up to the mountain to die and the final act of his faith is to bless all the tribes of Israel. It's really incredible to think this man can find it in his heart to bless the very people who caused his failure at the rock and led to him missing out on the promised land. But again, this all points us to Christ's death for the sins of the people.

Deuteronomy 33:1–5 (ESV) This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. 2 He said, “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand. 3 Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you, 4 when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. 5 Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

In spite of all the trouble the last 40 years had brought to Moses and Israel, in spite of all the trials and testings, in spite of all the failures and unbelief, Moses was still going to leave Israel with a blessing. 

Look at the phrases... "He loved His people... His holy ones were in His hand..." The people of Israel were to understand that through it all, the ups, downs, good and bad, God was still with them as a people and for them as a nation. 

This is a great lesson for the Church. Like ancient Israel, the big "C" global Church has had its good days and bad, it's ups and downs, its times of trial and testing and disbelieving God on many levels and in many ways. YET in spite of it all, God is still for His people. He is still building His church and so we must be glad and rejoice that all of our inadequacies cannot destroy God's purposes and plans. 

We also have the roots of our security in salvation here in this passage. Notice that Moses says, "YES He loved His people... they were in His hand, they followed in (His) steps." What is clear from the New Testament teaching is that not all Israel was true Israel. Paul says, "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel" Romans 9:6

It is true that many rebelled and disbelieved God in the wilderness. But that does not mean God did not have a group of people whose hearts were loyal to Him. So too in the New Covenant, the Church is filled with both true and false believers, those who trust Him and those who simply want to use Him. We must remember that God will keep those who are His in His Word. 

John 6:39 (ESV) And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

God has given Jesus a people for Himself. Jesus promises never to lose them. What a promise we have in God who will keep us and sustain us through every trouble and fear.

Want more proof? Consider Paul's words to the very carnal and foolish church in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (ESV) I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Many Christians worry obsessively about their own faithfulness. But what they need to remember and delight in is God's faithfulness. If He could get good out of the terrible testimony of Israel, you better believe He can do it with whatever you've gone through or been through.