Explore the Bible: November 30

God’s Power • Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29

By Ralph Henson

God is in Heaven

Unlike Jacob, who knew he was near death and just started giving blessings from his heart to the twelve sons and tribes (Genesis 48-49), when Moses prepared to bless the tribes of Israel, he began, not with the tribes, but with God and His power. Moses was able to bless Israel because of what God had done for him personally, and for Israel, and because He would continue to bless. Without personal blessings from God, we have little with which to bless others.

Moses told how God brought the law to the people from Sinai into Egypt, and led them out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 33:2). It was because God loved Israel that He gave them the law through Moses so they could be blessed (Deuteronomy 33:3). God commanded that Jacob’s descendants follow Him to inherit blessings. 

After a blessing for each of the twelve tribes, Moses then described God’s place in the heavens. Moses should know about God’s heavenly place; while Moses was in the wilderness, on Mt. Sinai he saw God in heaven. Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness (Exodus 24:9–10 KJV).

God Sees Us From Heaven

Some people have seen angels, or even God’s presence on earth, such as the burning bush or the four men in the furnace. But few people have seen heaven. Moses, Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-2), Zechariah (Zechariah 3:1-10), Daniel (Daniel 7:9-14), Paul (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), and John (Revelation 4:2-4) were some in the Bible who saw God’s dwelling place. 

But while not many have seen Him in heaven before death, we know God sees all from heaven. The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh Upon all the inhabitants of the earth (Psalm 33:13–15 KJV).

God Desires to Bless Us From heaven

He is not just observing with no interest as the deists believe; God desires to bless us. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV). God sees all of us; He is looking for Godliness and praise. 

We don’t live in heaven, so life is not always perfect. Pain and sorrow are part of life. But even though God is in heaven, He distributes His blessings to His believers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17 KJV).

When God speaks to us from heaven, it has power to change and power to bless. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). The ultimate Word from heaven was Jesus.

God Desires to Bless Us Through Others

God called Abraham, and promised him blessings. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:2–3 KJV). Paul indicates that all the families of the earth are blessed, not through Israel, but through Abraham’s seed, that is Jesus (Galatians 3:8-16). 

God’s presence and grace serve to bless us as His children. Moses told Aaron how to bless all of Israel through instruction and encouragement. Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them (Numbers 6:23–27 KJV).

Jesus tells us to bless others by letting God work through us. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16 KJV). God is in heaven, but His spirit dwells within every believer (Colossians 1:27).

When we bless God, we get the benefit of returned blessings for us and for others that are greater than any earthly blessings. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3 KJV). 

Henson is pastor of Mt. View Church, Meridian.