Moses said: 6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few.” 7 And this he said of Judah: “Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries.” Deuteronomy 33:6-7 (English Standard Version)

Only two verses today, but it gives and opportunity to look at some background to the 'blessing' Moses spoke over the tribes who made up the nation of Israel. Some 500 years earlier a man named Jacob, who was Abraham’s grandson, had an encounter with God. During that encounter God said Jacob's name would be changed to Israel. Jacob went on to have 12 sons. Over the years their descendants multiplied greatly and became the tribes of Israel. The first born of Jacob's sons was Reuben.

At the end of his life Jacob called his 12 sons to him to speak a 'blessing' over each of them, just as Moses was doing for their descendants. I've put the word blessing in inverted commas because what Jacob said to his sons (and what Moses said years later to their descendants) was partly an observation of what they already were, and partly a prophesy of what would become of them. And in some cases we’d have to call it a 'mixed blessing'. Take Reuben for example. What does Moses say concerning him. (vs 6)

That was certainly a mixed blessing. Let the tribe of Reuben continue, but not be plentiful. Why should Moses have said that? Sadly, part of the answer goes back to when Reuben himself was alive. He was Jacob's first born son and should have inherited the advantages that went with that. But he committed adultery with Bilhah, Jacob's concubine. She was the servant of Jacob's wife, Rachel, but was given to Jacob because Rachel at that time was barren. So when Jacob gave his 'blessing' to his sons, he started with Reuben his first-born and said: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the child of my vigorous youth. You are first in rank and first in power. But you are as unruly as a flood, and you will be first no longer. For you went to bed with my wife; you defiled my marriage couch.“ (Genesis 49:3-4)

In a way, Moses was continuing what Jacob had said. Reuben would not be the leading tribe in Israel as they entered the land God was giving them. But he would also not be snuffed out! A lesson we can take to heart is how our actions can affect future generations of our family tree. Choosing a wrong path can rob them of the blessing of a faithful dad or grand-dad, mom or grand-mom.

Which brings us to Judah. He was the fourth of Jacob's son and a man who also did some wrong things. But on one occasion he offered himself to be a 'hostage' instead of Jacob's youngest son Benjamin when they were trying to get grain in Egypt during a time of great famine. Jacob's blessing was that his brothers would praise him and he would have the sceptre and ruler's staff. He would have a leadership role. Moses echoes this and asks God to give the descendants of Judah help against their foes. (vs 7)

The prophetic blessing came true. Judah is the tribe King David came from and they inherited the land where Jerusalem was established. When the nation became divided after King Solomon's death, the region of Judah stayed faithful to the Lord for a longer time, and the southern kingdom was called Judea. It was also the region where Bethlehem was situated, which became the birthplace of the Messiah.

It's a common expression today that some things that happen to us are 'mixed blessings'. Sometimes it's mixed because of wrong things we may have done. At other times it may be because what happens is mingled with sorrow as well as joy. We may be terribly saddened at the passing away of a loved one in the Lord – but rejoicing that they’ve been taken out of the suffering they were going through. But the comfort for those in Christ is that, even in life's darkest days, we have a God who loves us with an everlasting love. Whatever trial He permits in our life will be mingled with His grace to overcome, and for the trial to turn out for our eventual blessing.