V’Zot HaB’rachah וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה
“And This the Blessing”
Torah: Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12
PROPHETS: Joshua 1:1–18
APOSTOLIC WRITINGS: Revelation 21:9–22:5
The devotional below is designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.
SUNDAY
Torah 1 & 2
Torah 1:
Blessing the Nation
Deuteronomy 33:1–7
33:1
Moses blesses the tribes of Israel before he dies (cf. Genesis 49 where Jacob does the same thing. For other listings see: Genesis 29:31–30:24 and 35:16–18 for the narrative of Jacob’s sons’ births; 35:23–26 for a concise list of the sons; and 46:8–25 for the “who’s who” of those going down to Egypt).
33:2–5
The introduction speaks of God as Deliverer and Covenant-maker.
33:6
Reuben is Jacob’s firstborn (normally the firstborn receives a double inheritance of blessing but Reuben blew it by sleeping with his father’s concubine, cf. Genesis 35:22 and 49:3–4).
33:7
Judah led the community march through the desert (cf. Numbers 2:2–3 and 10:14) and is blessed with protection. (Simeon is not mentioned, perhaps because his tribe was subsumed within Judah’s territory).
Torah 2:
Blessing the Priests
Deuteronomy 33:8–12
33:8–11
Levi was set apart at Mt. Sinai for loving God even more than immediate family (cf. Exodus 32:26–29 and Matthew 10:37).
33:12
Benjamin was Jacob’s youngest son by his beloved wife Rachel. Jerusalem would be in his tribal territory.
MONDAY
Torah 3 & 4
Torah 3:
Double Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:13–17
33:13–17
In Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph receives the double share that Reuben had lost (vv. 13–17; cf. Genesis 48:5–6 and Ezekiel 47:13). They also make up for the tribe of Levi who is not counted amongst the tribes for their share of inheritance (thus, the additional tribe maintains 12 tribes receiving land), since “the Lord is [Levi’s] share” (cf. Numbers 18:20).
Torah 4:
Mutual Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:18–21
33:18–21
Zebulun (v. 18a) and Issachar (vv. 18b–19) are Leah’s remaining sons. These two sons were close in birth order as well as geographical proximity. The rabbis have traditionally understood Zebulun to be blessed in commercial trade (i.e. “going out,” NIV; or “going forth,” NASB) and Issachar to be blessed in Torah study (i.e. “in your tents”). Furthermore, tradition has asserted that these vocational blessings were symbiotic in nature: thus, the Zebulunites provided the material resources, whereas the neighboring Issacharites provided the spiritual resources.
33:20–21
Gad is the first son blessed from one of Jacob’s concubines (cf. Genesis 30:9–11).
TUESDAY
torah 5 & 6
Torah 5:
Final Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:22–26
33:22–23
Dan (v. 22) and Naphtali (v. 23) are the two sons that Bilhah, Rachel’s concubine, bore to Jacob (cf. Genesis 30:1–8).
33:24–25
Asher would be situated in the north, where olive oil was in abundance and where strong defenses were needed due to being a border territory.
33:26
The next verse picks back up on the theme of the introduction in v. 2.
Torah 6:
Grand Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:27–29
All of Jacob’s sons, and the nation that is their offspring, are described as being set apart by God.
How do you understand Israel’s “chosen-ness” (cf. Deuteronomy 10:15) coming from the same God who claims to give “no partiality” (cf. Deuteronomy 10:17)? Is God playing favorites, or merely pursuing a plan of worldwide redemption that elevates firstborns along with the rest of the family of nations?
WEDNESDaY
torah 7 &
conclusion
torah 7:
Death of Moses
Deuteronomy 34:1–12
Some believe that Moses prophetically wrote this chapter, while others believe it was recorded and added by Joshua. In any event, according to God’s will, Moses sees the land from afar that Joshua will lead the nation to possess. The final verses of God’s Torah hold up Moses as unique in ways that Messiah would fulfill. Which specific things did Moses do, according to vv. 10–12, that Yeshua did too?
Conclusion:
Birth of the World
Genesis 1:1–2:3
We are to read God’s word continually throughout the year. Thus, we don’t just end with the closing verses of D’varim (Deuteronomy), but immediately continue with the Rishon (first section) of B’Reisheet (Genesis). Thus, we read God’s word continually, without end.
Application
What one thing could you do differently to grow in this area of spending time in God’s word? Ask Him to show you and with a quiet heart listen for His “still, small voice.”
THURSDAY
PROPHETS
Prophets:
Joshua Succeeds Moses
Joshua 1:1–18
This chapter breaks up into three sections:
1:1–9
First, God speaks to Joshua.
1:10–15
Joshua then turns around and speaks to the nation. We can see here a solid principle of leadership: to lead others, you must first be following God. Thus, effective leadership is “following God and leading others in doing the same.” Joshua is following God and leading the nation to follow Him. Are you primarily a leader or a follower? Who do you follow? Where are you going? Who do you lead and where are you leading them?
1:16–18
In the last section, Israel responds to Joshua by committing to follow him as the way of following God. How does the people’s assessment of their own degree of obedience compare to reality (cf. Joshua 1:17 and Deuteronomy 31:27)?
Application
What is your assessment of your own degree of obedience in being committed to follow Messiah Yeshua as the way of following God? How does that assessment compare to reality? Ask Yeshua to show you one area where He wants you to follow Him more obediently for the glory of the Father and the good of you!
FRIDAY
Apostolic Writings
Apostolic Writings:
Yeshua Succeeds Joshua
Revelation 21:9–22:5
What an amazing picture of God dwelling with man again in a renewed creation. How is John’s vision related to Ezekiel’s vision (cf. Ezekiel 48:31 and Revelation 21:12)? The most obvious similarity is that the gates around the city bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Supporting the wall around the city are foundations that bear the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. In these visions, Israel and the Church—the bride of the Lamb—are both discussed (cf. 21:9). Israel and the Church are distinct, yet related. Praise God that some congregations are truly “Jews and Gentiles sharing new life in Messiah” and that He has called us to “make disciples of Messiah Yeshua among Israel and the nations” as part of His plan to redeem the world!
application
What can you do today to play the part God has for you in this holy redemptive process? What will you do tomorrow to “rest” on Shabbat in a way that fulfills God’s purposes according to Exodus 31:13, to teach you that He alone is “the LORD, who makes you holy”?
SATURDAY
Rest. Fellowship. Discussion.