Fz – Let Reuben Live 33: 1-6

Let Reuben Live
33: 1-6

Let Reuben live DIG: What picture is being painted here? Who is present? Why does Moses, under the influence of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, mention Seir and Mount Paran? Who are the “holy ones?” How do Moshe’s blessings compare, tribe for tribe, with Jacob’s blessings in Genesis 49? Why has Rueben’s tribe become smaller and smaller? What about their future?

REFLECT: Have you ever lost something because of your own sin, but it was restored by the grace and mercy of the Lord? How can God turn a curse into a blessing? What picture of God do you get from these verses? What makes you want to trust ADONAI more and more?

Parashah 54: v’Zot haB’rachah (This is the blessing)  33:1-34:12
(to see link click Af – Parashah)

This portion is read on Simchat Torah, which is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. It is celebrated with a Torah procession marching seven times around the congregation; however, the singing, dancing and rejoicing goes on much longer. This holiday is meant to express the joy that the Jews feel in their possession and observance of the words of the Torah.

The Key People: Moshe blessing the twelve tribes of Isra’el, and Joshua.

The Scene: is the climb from the plains of Mo’ab up to Mount Nebo in the Pisgah Mountain range east of Jericho, viewing much of the Promised Land.

The Main Events: include Moses blessing each tribe, then climbing Mount Nebo to view much of the Promised Land; Moshe’s death at the age of 120, his burial in Mo’ab by ADONAI; the Israelites mourning for 30 days; Joshua filled with the Ruach of wisdom, ordained for leadership; and a tribute to Moses as the only prophet who spoke with God face-to-face.⁶⁹⁰

On the day Moses died, he delivered his final blessing
and then ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Promise from afar.

We are in the plains of Mo’ab, across the Jordan from Jericho, more than 3,000 years ago, bidding farewell to Moses our Teacher. He is an ancient-looking man, white-haired and clear-eyed. The years have not stooped him over, and his mind is still keen. Now, just before he was to die, following the example of Jacob, Moshe wanted to bless the tribes of Isra’el and the praise YHVH for His care of the new generation of Israelites. This is the blessing (singular, which will burst out into many, many other blessings for each tribe) with which Moses the man of God blessed Bnei-Yisra’el before his death (33:1).

He said: ADONAI came from Sinai and dawned on Bnei-Yisra’el from Seir. He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with the holy myriads of angels – blazing fire (this Hebrew word is obscure, possibly meaning fiery law or mountain slopes) for them from His right hand (33:2). Why does Moses, under the influence of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, mention Seir and Mount Paran? Seir is in Edom, where the city of Bozrah (Hebrew) or Petra (Greek) is located. During the second half of the Great Tribulation, Ha’Shem will provide a place of protection for Isra’el in the wilderness as the armies of the antichrist surround and close in on her (see the commentary on Revelation Ds – The Woman and the Dragon). God comes from the area of Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran, which is also in Edom. His Sh’khinah glory covers the heavens, and His praise fills the earth. His face is like the sun shining in all its brilliance.(Revelation 1:16). There, His power was hidden (Habakkuk 3:4). This points us to the Second Coming (see the commentary on Isaiah Kg – The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Bozrah), where all Isra’el will be saved (see the commentary on Revelation Ev – The Basis for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ).

Then Yeshua battles His way up the Valley of Jehoshaphat all the way to Yerushalayim (see the commentary on Revelation Ex – The Eight Stage Campaign of Armageddon). Indeed, a lover of peoples is He – all His kedoshim are in His hand. They followed in Your steps, each receiving Your words. Torah Moses commanded us – a heritage for the community of Jacob. He became king in Jeshurun when the heads of the people gathered, all the tribes of Isra’el together (34:3-5). What a revelation, and an encouragement this must have been to Moses. And it is after this, that Moshe begins to give his blessings to Isra’el. Now that he has seen that Bnei-Yisra’el will enter the Messianic Kingdom, we can see Moshe at rest. He blesses the tribes with the Millennium in mind. There are no warnings or curses for any of the tribes in his prophecies.

Moses starts, of course, with Reuben, saying: Let Reuben live and not die, though his people become few (33:6). Why did he say that? When Jacob prophesied about Rueben, he did not show him in a favorable light because of the great sin he had committed, and lost the blessing attached to the firstborn (see the commentary on Genesis Le – Reuben, You are My Firstborn, Turbulent as the Waters, You Will No Longer Excel). Throughout the history of this tribe, they showed instability because of their refusal to fight (Judges 5:16). They also showed a lack of restraint, being the first to request a place to settle in the Promised Land (Numbers 32). This tribe showed a lack of faith by erecting a pagan place of worship (Joshua 22). No leaders of Isra’el ever came from this tribe, and as time went on, it became smaller and smaller. This would make it appear that the tribe at the time of Moses’s blessing was in danger of extinction. But this was the past.

Now, Moses sees the tribe of Reuben fully reestablished in the Messianic Kingdom (see the commentary on Isaiah Ge – Your Eyes Will See the King in His Beauty). Let Reuben live and not die, though his people become few (33:6). Like Reuben, our sins can have a long range, tragic consequences. Sin takes you further than you want to go, and costs you more than you want to pay. However, like Reuben, all of our sins will be forgotten when we enter the Messianic Kingdom.