The Blessing of Moses - Luke 8:10.com

The Blessing of Moses

The Song of Moses is a remarkable prophecy found in chapter thirty-two of Deuteronomy. This prophecy concludes in verse forty-three which states that the Lord “will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.” (Deuteronomy 32:43b) The word translated as “merciful” is kapar (Strong’s H3722) which means to make atonement. The concluding remark of the Song of Moses describes the conclusion of the Tribulation when the Lord Jesus will make atonement for Israel.

As Moses approached his death, he blessed the tribes of Israel in chapter thirty-three of Deuteronomy. The four verses after the introductory verse one (Deuteronomy 33:2-5) describe the Lord’s relation to Israel in familiar, loving terms. The name Jeshurun (Strong’s H3484) is diminutive for Israel, just as “Jimmy” is diminutive for “James,” or “Bobby” for “Robert.” The same familiar, loving terms are true of the last four verses (Deuteronomy 33:26-29). These verses also describe the Lord’s care for and blessing of Jeshurun.

Here is the sequence of blessing by Moses:

He begins with a few words of blessing for Reuben, the firstborn. (Deuteronomy 33:6)
He then gives surprisingly few words of blessing for Judah, the tribe from which Jesus Messiah was born. (Deuteronomy 33:7)
Several verses of blessing are directed to Levi, the priestly tribe. (Deuteronomy 33:8-11)
One verse of blessings are given for Benjamin, the youngest. (Deuteronomy 33:12)
Several verses of the choicest of blessings are given for Joseph. He is described as separate from his brothers. Included in the blessing are Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Recall that the two sons were heads of two tribes of Israel. Joseph was doubly blessed over his brothers with two tribes in Jacob’s family. (Deuteronomy 33:13-17)
Zebulon and Issachar are blessed together. (Deuteronomy 33:18-19)
Two verses of blessing were for Gad. (Deuteronomy 33:20-21)
The troublesome tribe of Dan appears to receive a declaration rather than a blessing. (Deuteronomy 33:22)
Naphtali received good words of blessing. (Deuteronomy 33:23)
Asher, although last, received a good blessing also. (Deuteronomy 33:24-25)

Obviously Moses, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave these blessings in an order that is not birth order, nor apparently in order of importance. This could be the subject of another great Bible study. There is nothing contained in the Word of God by chance.

But one tribe is missing. In verse one of chapter thirty-two Moses began with the instruction to “give ear” or listen, and “hear.” The missing tribe in the blessings of chapter thirty-three is Simeon. Simeon means “heard.” His mother declared that the Lord had heard her prayers, and she named him Simeon.

Simeon is missing from the blessings of Moses because he represents the hearing of Israel, which has been bound. When the sons of Jacob went to Egypt for food during the famine, Joseph kept one of the brothers as surety that they would return. That brother was Simeon, who figuratively represents the hearing of Israel, which has been bound.

“and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.” – Genesis 42:24b

The Apostle Paul shows us this in the New Testament:

“(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.” – Romans 11:8

Although a “Jew’s Jew” (II Corinthians 11:22), the Book of Acts concludes with Paul’s statement:

“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” – Acts 28:28 (author’s emphasis)

The Story of Salvation is found in the Old Testament. When Jesus spoke to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He was teaching from the Old Testament. With the information in the Old Testament, we often wonder why the Jews cannot understand. The missing blessing of Simeon explains why many Jews today cannot hear and understand the wonderful gift of Salvation from the Lord.

Praise the Lord for the Salvation that He has given us, Gentiles, by including us in His plan! Praise the Lord for His Salvation, Jesus!

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