Personal Note

The personal note showed the reader that even though their friend was on the other side of the world, they were still thinking of them personally.

Deuteronomy 33:1-29

Reference:  v. 12  About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders." (NIV Bible)

Explore:  There was as stage in my life when it seemed that all my friends were travelling overseas for extended holidays.  Every month or so I would get a long group email from one of them as they filled everyone in on their adventures.  These emails were always filled with places they had visited and sites they had seen and sometimes there was even a humorous anecdote of a cultural misunderstanding.  While it was always great to hear from friends, the emails were always written very generally as it would be sent to friends and family alike.  Sometimes, however, the travelling writer would add some personal notes at the end of their email.  After finishing their tales of overseas adventures they would add on the bottom, "Sarah: Happy Birthday, wish I could have been there with you to celebrate; Travis: Congratulations on your job promotion, mate; Chris: everything's prepared for you to come and join me, can't wait to see you…"  These personal notes on the end of the email were often the most exciting part.  You would quickly read through the travelling adventures just to see if you got a mention at the end.  It showed the reader that even though their friend was on the other side of the world, they were still thinking of them personally.

Application:  As I read through this second last chapter in Deuteronomy I felt like Moses was doing the same thing to all the tribes of Israel.  He had reminded them of where they had been, he had told them of what was to come, he encouraged them to always remain faithful to God… and then he gave each tribe a little personal note.  Some were longer than others but they were all mentioned.  I wonder whether each tribe held on to those few words more than the rest of the chapters, just like I always would when my friend wrote a personal note to me at the end of a travelling email.  Although God had chosen the Israelites as His people, Moses still left them with a little individualized blessing.  Sometimes when we are reading through scripture the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to a particular verse and its like that's our own little personal message from God.  Amongst all the verses and chapters there can be a personal note that is meant just for us for that time. 

Prayer:  Lord, You see us all individually.  You never travel too far away from us and You never forget us.  Open our eyes and our hearts so we can see Your personal message to us.  Amen.

When have you read a piece of scripture and felt a verse really jump out and speak to you personally?

Deuteronomy