Shalom!

 
The last two chapters of Devarim are traditionally read on Simchat Torah, or the 8th day following the week of Sukkot. Others study this section on this coming Shabbat. Thus, I am sending V'zot Habracha today, as next week I will already be sending out Bereshith before Sukkot is even over! The wheels certainly do turn without a break!
 
These are the very last words spoken by Moshe:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the El of Yeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. 27 The eternal Elohim is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' 28 Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Ya'acov alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. 29 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! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places."
 
These words are on the heels of the blessings/prophecies given to the tribes of Israel. They are timeless words, full of spiritual wealth, and the heritage of His chosen ones. If your God is the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'acov and you have been grafted in through faith in Yeshua to the olive tree of Israel, then you can rejoice in the intimacy these Words will bring into your life.
 
Let's talk about how near YHWH is said to be to His people. His first "position" is described as:
  • Above us
Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the El of Yeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.

 
Notice how He "rides the heavens to help you and in His excellency on the clouds." He really is "above" us.
 
Psalm 68:33 To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His Voice, a mighty Voice. 34 Ascribe strength to Elohim; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds. 35 O Elohim, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The El of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be Elohim!
 

In case you think that this lofty position makes Him inaccessible:

 
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
 

Then, our text tells us that Elohim is:

  • Beneath us
Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal Elohim is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms

 
Think about what it means for Him to be "underneath" us. "Underneath" is the place where our feet tread. To the Israelites, "underneath" was the burning sand of the wilderness. Sometimes "underneath" their feet were the fiery serpents and other evil things. Sometimes they found themselves walking into the abode of the pagans. Yet, He who loved them was always with them. You may feel that you are descending down, down, down. But you cannot go so low, that Elohim's arms are still lower! We are supported by His Divine strength. In fact, Yeshua is our foundation!
 
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ
 
And next we see that He is:
  • Before us
Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:27 ...He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!'
 

Thus we know that He is above, beneath, before, and in fact all around us. In Him we live, move, and have our being. Our loving Father surrounds His children on all sides.

 
And so, almost like a song, Moshe pours out unspeakably rich words after he has had decades of personal intimacy with YHWH. Years later Yeshua would ascend to heaven blessing His disciples. Now Yah's servant Moshe, before ascending Mt. Pisgah, poured out blessings inspired by the Holy Spirit. He ends with these words:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:29 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! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places."
 
Moshe loved the children of Israel. He now passionately speaks to them and tells them how blessed they are. Not only blessed but HAPPY! And above all, they are "a people like none other...a people saved by YHWH." Whether Moshe is with them or not is not the important thing. YHWH is with them always. They are a people who will surely be brought into the covenant Land of Promise and given victory over their enemies. What better comfort could be offered to bereaved hearts?
 
With this said, Moshe climbs up to the top of the mountain, is given a vision of the entire Land and dies. It is YHWH who buries Moshe:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 34:6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
 
We are in the Season of Joy and we should remember that the message is the same:
 
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
 
Psalm 33:12 Happy is the nation whose Elohim is YHWH, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

 
Thus we come to the end of another Torah cycle. But the wheels are still turning and Yah-willing without taking a breath we will begin Bereshith once again next week! Most of us will not be able to go to Jerusalem for the Feast, but do enjoy this excellent video of the City of David - Rising from her dust
 
Oh, and one more thing. We are not to appear before YHWH empty-handed at the Feast of Sukkot:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:16 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before YHWH empty-handed.
 
If I could suggest a place where you could make a donation... Mike Clayton takes regular tours to Israel. He is a very dear personal friend of mine. In fact, he stood beside me when I was mikvehed (baptized) in the Jordan River. His zealous love for Yeshua and Israel (land and the people) encourages me so much in my own walk. He will soon be leaving again for Israel. If you would like to make a donation that would be hand-delivered to it's source, it's easy for you to do. Go to Mike's website and hit the "donate" button. http://www.joinedtohashem.org Leave a note that your donation is specifically for Israel. In the past money has gone for:
 
Shiloh Children's school
City of Itamar
Other towns in Judah Samaria
Needy in Old City
 
Last year donations were even able to buy protective vests for a community in Judea. These could literally save someone's life in the future! Consider donating to Israel!
 
Chag Sameach v'Shabbat Shalom!
Ardelle