In the most beautiful and exalted language the closing words of Moses’ blessing celebrate God’s excellency and power and the triumph of His goodness to Israel in the last days. If on the one hand in His governmental ways He had dealt with them according to their conduct, on the other hand He would rise to the heights of His grace and glory to bless and keep them.
“There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” How blest are they who are the objects of such a salvation!
How precious and assuring to us in times of sickness, sorrow or trial, in danger, or even when humbled through some failure, to know and feel that underneath are those “everlasting arms” of love that will never let us go!
“He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Before such a display of power Israel’s foes will be helpless and utterly defeated. Then under God’s beneficent smile Israel “shall dwell safely alone.”
In that millennial day of peace and prosperity, when Israel shall have turned to the Lord, the promised blessings will come upon them in their fullness. “The fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also His heavens shall drop down dew” telling of refreshment, joy and abundance for all.
Israel’s father had been named Jacob (or “supplanter") at his birth, but there came a time in his life when God called him Israel, meaning “a prince with God.” So in those happy days to come the “Jacob” nature will have disappeared, and God’s people will manifest the grace and dignity of their “Israel” calling. In those days “a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice on the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely.” Jer. 23:5, 65Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5‑6).
In contemplation of such a wondrous prospect, in a spirit entirely emptied of self, though he himself was not permitted to be with them in it, Moses rejoices in the triumph of God’s goodness to Israel, and at the brightness of their glory and blessing at the end. How beautiful are his last words to his people: “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord...!”
ML-08/15/1976