Israel's Blessing [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29]

What is the blessedness of God’s people? Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God Himself is the greatest blessing of His people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Moses, at the end of his life, delivers a final blessing to the tribes of Israel, culminating in a profound declaration of God’s covenantal love and sovereignty. The passage reveals God as the ultimate source of blessing—riding the heavens, sustaining His people with everlasting arms, and defeating enemies on their behalf. The blessings to each tribe are not merely material promises but covenantal affirmations, with special emphasis on Levi’s role in spiritual leadership and the enduring significance of divine election. The climax of the blessing is the declaration that Israel’s true happiness lies not in land or wealth, but YHWH Himself, in and through Christ.

2026.04.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29

Read Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29

Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom, when (Deuteronomy 32:48)? Where does He tell Moses to go (verse 49)? To do what? What two other things will he do there (Deuteronomy 32:50)? Why must he die there (Deuteronomy 32:51)? What will he see (Deuteronomy 32:52)? What won’t he do? What does Deuteronomy 33:1 call the following verses? Who came from where (Deuteronomy 33:2a-d)? Who came with Him (verse 2e, cf. Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2)? What did He give (Deuteronomy 33:2f–g)? With what affection (Deuteronomy 33:3a)? Who are in His hand (verse 3b)? What do they do (verse 3c–d)? By whom did He command it (Deuteronomy 33:4a)? As what (verse 4b)? What does Deuteronomy 33:5a call Israel? Who was God to them? When (verse 5b–c)? What two blessings does he now pronounce on Reuben (Deuteronomy 33:6a)? Tempered by what limitation (verse 6b)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:7a)? Who will hear him (verse 7b)? And bring him where (verse 7c)? And enable him to do what (verse 7d–e)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:8a)? What will YHWH do for him (verse 8b)? What had YHWH done to him (verse 8c–d)? Whom did they resist, in order to be faithful to YHWH (Deuteronomy 33:9)? What will they do unto Israel (Deuteronomy 33:10a–b)? What will they do unto YHWH (verse 10c–d)? What will YHWH do for him (Deuteronomy 33:11a–b)? And how protect him (verse 11c–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:12a)? What will YHWH do for him (verse 12b–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:13a)? What will YHWH bless for him (verse 13b)? With what (verse 13c–d)? And with what else (Deuteronomy 33:14-16a)? But ultimately with what (Deuteronomy 33:16b)? Upon what will blessing come (verse 16c–d)? What will Joseph be like (Deuteronomy 33:17a–b)? What will he do (verse 17c–e)? In what numbers (verse 17f–g)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:18a)? With whom (verse 18c)? What will they do (verse 18b)? Whom will they lead (Deuteronomy 33:19a) in what (verse 19b)? What will they have a share in (verse 19c–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:20a)? By blessing whom else (verse 20b)? What does he do (verse 20c–d)? In what role (Deuteronomy 33:21)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:22a)? By describing him as what (verse 22b)? And doing what (verse 22c)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:23a)? With what will he be satisfied (verse 23b) and full (verse 23c)? What will he possess (verse 23d)? Whom does he bless last (Deuteronomy 33:24a)? By calling him what (verse 24b)? Who else will favor him (verse 24c)? With what richness (verse 24d)? And what strength (Deuteronomy 33:25a)? In accordance with what (verse 25b)? Whose uniqueness does Deuteronomy 33:26a declare? How does He show it (verse 26b–c)? Who is He (Deuteronomy 33:27a)? What is He to them? How are they upheld (verse 27b)? How are they protected (verse 27c–d)? What will be their security (Deuteronomy 33:28a)? How is their life described (verse 28b)? And their richness (verse 28c)? And their freshness (verse 28d)? What, therefore, is their condition (Deuteronomy 33:29a)? What makes them so happy (verse 29b)? What two things is He to them (verse 29c–d)? What will they do to their enemies (verse 29e–f)?

What is the blessedness of God’s people? Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God Himself is the greatest blessing of His people.  

Moses has preached his last sermon now, which takes up the bulk of the book of Deuteronomy. And in order that the written copy of the book might be a witness, and heaven and earth might be a witness against all Israel in the generations to come, the Lord had him conclude the book with the song that summarized the rest of the book. And he has written the song, and he speaks it all to Israel, and he finishes that and tells them what to do with it in verse forty-five and forty-six.

Now, the Lord says, it is time to die. This sentence was pronounced on Moses for failing to hallow the Lord at Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51), when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Before he dies, Moses will see the land (Deuteronomy 32:52). As something of a father to Israel, he blesses them before dying, like Jacob had done in Genesis 49. Many blessings overlap between the two. Genesis 49:7 has already begun coming true for Simeon, who is missing from Deuteronomy 33. The curse on Reuben (cf. Genesis 49:4) is affirmed in the fewness of their number (Deuteronomy 32:46b, NKJ’s “nor” is incorrect), though Moses’s blessing preserves their existence (Deuteronomy 32:6a). Zebulun’s blessing in Genesis 49:13 is confirmed here in Deuteronomy 33:19d–e, and they continue to be connected with Issachar (Deuteronomy 33:18, cf. Genesis 49:13–14). 

Israel’s earthly blessings are rounded out by Benjamin’s security between two ranges of hills (Deuteronomy 33:12), Joseph’s many earthly blessings (Deuteronomy 33:13-17), Gad’s enjoyment of the territories of Sihon and Og (Deuteronomy 33:20-21), Dan’s lion-like nature (Deuteronomy 33:22), Naphtali’s blessings around the sea of Galilee (Deuteronomy 33:23), and Asher’s riches (Deuteronomy 33:24-25).

Other nations may possess material wealth or geographical advantages, but for Israel, for God’s people, and for you who are in Christ, the good things you receive in this world come to you through the love that gave you Christ. They are manifestations of God’s special, covenantal, electing, and adopting love toward His people. Therefore, you give thanks to God for them as covenant blessings. 

This is where the emphasis ultimately lies. Enclosing these tribal blessings, Moses introduces (Deuteronomy 33:2-6) and concludes (Deuteronomy 33:26-29) with general blessings and the general blessedness, focusing upon their greatest blessing: the Lord Himself. YHWH shined forth as pillar of fire and cloud of glory (Deuteronomy 33:2). Israel are made holy ones (Deuteronomy 33:3), being consecrated to Him like the thousands of angels who had been at Sinai (Deuteronomy 33:2, cf. Hebrews 2:2). In this, we see the love of God, even for sinners, redeeming  them to be His holy ones. His law comes in that love, as their heritage (Deuteronomy 33:4). And in His love, He was king to them (Deuteronomy 33:5). He is their help (Deuteronomy 33:26), their refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27a), their support (verse 27b), their avenger (verse 27c–d), their security (Deuteronomy 33:28a), their life (verse 28b–d), their joy (Deuteronomy 33:29a), their salvation (verse 29b), their defense (verse 29c), their gory (verse 29d–f). YHWH is everything to them.

This is why Levi’s blessing is the most important (Deuteronomy 33:8-11). On several occasions, they have been faithful to YHWH, over-against the rest of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:9). Now, they are blessed to minister spiritually to man (Deuteronomy 33:10a–b) and God (verse 10c–d). 

All the blessedness that the Lord gives, and especially the blessedness of the Lord Himself being ours, belongs ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who pronounces blessing upon us, and especially the blessing of God Himself being our happiness. Happy are you, O Israel, who is like you, a people saved by YHWH, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty. This belongs to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What material blessings have you received? How are you taking and enjoying the Lord Himself as your greater blessing?

Sample prayer: Lord, You have given us many material blessings. Forgive us for when our hearts make more of them than of You. Grant that we would receive all blessings as from the love that gave us Jesus, the love that made us Your own people. Most of all, we pray that You would enable us to receive Yourself as our great blessing and blessedness, in the Lord Jesus, and by Your Spirit. For we ask this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”