Sated with Favor

“This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. He said,

‘The Lord came from Sinai
and dawned upon us;
he shone forth from Mount Paran;
he came from the ten thousands of holy ones,
with flaming fire at his right hand.
Yes, he loved his people,
all his holy ones were in his hand…

‘Give to Levi your Thummim,
    and your Urim to your godly one…
They shall teach Jacob your rules
    and Israel your law;
they shall put incense before you
    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Bless, O Lord, his substance,
    and accept the work of his hands…’

Of Benjamin he said,

‘The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety.
The High God surrounds him all day long,
    and dwells between his shoulders.’

Of Joseph he said,

‘Blessed by the Lord be his land,
    with the choicest gifts of heaven above,
    and of the deep that crouches beneath,
with the choicest fruits of the sun
    and the rich yield of the months,
with the finest produce of the ancient mountains
    and the abundance of the everlasting hills,
with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
    and the favor of him who dwells in the bush.
May these rest on the head of Joseph…’

Of Zebulun he said,

‘Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
    and Issachar, in your tents…
draw from the abundance of the seas
    and the hidden treasures of the sand.’

Of Naphtali he said,

‘O Naphtali, sated with favor,
    and full of the blessing of the Lord,
    possess the lake and the south.’

Of Asher he said,

‘Most blessed of sons be Asher…
   as your days, so shall your strength be.’

‘There is none like God, O Jeshurun,
    who rides through the heavens to your help,
    through the skies in his majesty.
The eternal God is your dwelling place,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms…
So Israel lived in safety,..
in a land of grain and wine,
    whose heavens drop down dew.
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,
    a people saved by the Lord,
the shield of your help,
    and the sword of your triumph!’” Deuteronomy 33:1-3,8-12,16,18-19,23-24,26-29

The God of all power and splendor loves His people beyond imagining, and blesses us in magnificent ways that fulfill His eternal purpose and glory. The abundance He bestows sates us in indescribable ways. Though His bounty is beyond measure, through Moses He distills it into words that help us grasp just a smidgen, and be filled with thanks.

Work that is meaningful and spiritually effective, His constant presence to protect and comfort, rich provision and the favor of man, treasure in our going out and coming in, abundant strength to match our days, happiness, help, and victory. The matchless God who loves us infinitely gives all good gifts. (James 1:17)

Who is like His people, blessed beyond measure? Why do we clamor for satisfaction elsewhere?

Whom can we bless today? Upon who will we pronounce the benediction of Christ, whom can we bolster with the promises of His Word? Whom will we take the time to look in the eye and tell that they are treasured by their Maker, have great purpose in His kingdom, and can make a difference by His power?

Father, satisfy me daily with Your unfailing love, and cause me to bless others from Your bounty. (Psalm 90:14)