NOTES for Deu 33:1-29

The ancient blessings on the twelve tribes, which Moses pronounces before his death, reveal to us, in Old Testament language, the beauty of God's plan for us. The fact that the blessings concern both the individual tribes and all Israel manifests the principle of unity in multiplicity according to which God created the world. The same principle operates in any human society: family, community, country, and Church. Every person matters to God; each has a ministry, gifts, and a blessing of their own. Yet all of us together are also the object of His love and gracious care. This aspect is also very important in practice. For example, a believer is often inclined either to identify completely with the common body, the Church, or, on the contrary, to separate from it. The importance of the personal aspect is expressed in Mt 6:6. And the value of communion in God is expressed in Christ's final commandment: "That they may all be one."