In the closing chapters of Deuteronomy Moses finishes his epic talk to the people of Israel. He has spelt out the blessings and curses of their unique covenant with God, and now Moses finishes with a beautiful blessing to each tribe.

Oh to receive a blessing like Benjamin’s: “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long: and he shall shelter between His shoulders.”

Or Joseph’s: “Blessed of the Lord is his land, with the precious things of heaven, with the dew and the deep lying beneath, with the precious fruits of the sun, with the precious produce of the months. With the best things of the ancient mountains, with the precious things of the everylasting hills, with the precious things of the earth and its fullness and the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.”

After Moses has delivered these blessings, and laid hands on his successor Joshua, he climbs up Mount Nebo and dies. “And God buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.”

And so, after such an up and down emotional journey through the desert of Moses, and its anger and love and ancient strangeness, I feel sad to leave.

“But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses….whom the Lord knew face to face” says Deuteronomy 34: 10.

Dear God, Please let me be humble and spiritually poor before you, as I ought. Please let me be a bold speaker for you before man. Thank you that you have blessed me with faith and a host of earthly blessings, despite my sins. For all my sins, those I know and those I do not, I ask forgiveness. Please bless the paths of my children, my sister, my parents and my husband. In the holy name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.