We Can All Be a Blessing

This week, we read the last Torah Portion of this year's cycle, Ve'Zot Ha'Brachah וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה (And This is The Blessing), based on Deuteronomy 33:01-34:12, where we read the blessing from Moses for each tribe. He starts with Judah in verse 7 and ends with Asher in verse 24, listing each tribe's qualities and blessing them based on them. What stands out to me in these verses is how Adonai doesn't want us to be all the same; instead, He looks for each tribe's strength to bless them according to their individual gifts. That is so encouraging to me, because I often diminish my own abilities and wish I were like other servants of Adonai. I'm certain I'm not alone in that sentiment, as I often hear people say, "he is so great, I wish I were more like him", or "she is so amazing, I wish I had her gifts." That is not what is important to God, but our willingness to hear His call and our response through obedience.

The LORD used Moses' voice and talent to bless each tribe prophetically based on their gifts and strengths. (AI image generated and copied from ffoz.com for this week's Torah Portion).

What this week's lesson teaches me is that He wants to use and bless us for who we are and not for what we can do. What is important to Him isn't our abilities, but our availability. Our willingness to trust Him is the only prerequisite required by Adonai. This, coincidentally, lines up with what I taught in this week's Hebrew class. We studied the word Hineni הִנֵּנִי, illustrating the importance of being available to Him when He calls us. The word "Hineni" is the response given by Samuel and many others in Scripture when they hear God's calling in their lives. In 1 Samuel 3:4, we see an example of this:

"Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, 'Here I am.'" וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי

We see this again when Adonai asks Isaiah the following question:

"Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am. Send me.'" Isaiah 6:8

In both occasions, and many other examples in Scripture, Samuel and Isaiah were not focused on their own ability. Nor did they concern themselves with what God would ask of them. They only believed and made themselves available to Adonai. When the LORD called Moses, Moses hesitated a bit, but then the LORD said to Him:

"'What is that in your hand?' 'A staff,' he replied." Exodus 4:2

Showing us yet another beautiful lesson: God will use whatever you have in your hands to use you powerfully. Don't worry about what you CANNOT do or DO NOT have; instead, know that the LORD will use you where you are and what you have. Jesus echoes this pattern in His ministry. He called fishermen to become "fishers of men", and tax collectors to write and register His Words for future generations. The only important thing was their response when Jesus said:

"'Come, follow Me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:19-20

No questions. No hesitations. They immediately dropped everything and followed Him. Jesus could have chosen qualified and educated people, but His only concern was availability. Not their position, wealth, or intellectual gifts. Their willingness to trust and follow was Jesus' only requirement.

"The blessing" is not dependent on our gifts or ability, but on our daily obedience and availability. Our trust in what He can do through us, regardless of our knowledge and gifts. I challenge you to meditate on this beautiful and freeing lesson. God is not interested in robots that are all the same. He is not interested in making clones. He made you different on purpose. He made you with individual gifts that will make you perfect for His call in your life. All you need to do is trust and take daily steps to find that call and bless Him by making that call come to fruition in your lifetime.

"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." Ephesians 2:8-10

I don't know how you feel about all this. I feel so relieved and so thankful that it is not up to me. I trust Him fully to use whatever I can offer in ways that we will only fully grasp when we enter eternity. Only then will we see the full impact of the smallest gesture of obedience that He will accomplish by our steps of faith. I can't wait to see the true impact of a simple smile or a word of encouragement prompted by God and how He will use that moment to create ripples of blessing through time. Dream of that with me as we begin another wonderful week, my beloved family and friends. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov.