Deuteronomy 33:23-29: a reflection

23About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the LORD’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.” 24About Asher he said, “Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil. 25Your bars will be iron and bronze. As your days, so your strength will be. 26“There is no one like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in his excellency on the skies. 27The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’ 28Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew. 29You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”

Near the end of his life, Moses blesses the tribes, and in the middle of it comes a line worth carrying with you always: the eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Two images of security, side by side. God is your home, the place you dwell and belong. And God's arms are underneath you, holding you up from below.

Sit with that second image especially: underneath are the everlasting arms. However far you feel you are falling, however much the ground seems to be giving way beneath you, there is something underneath, and it is not the void. It is the arms of God, everlasting, that do not tire or give out. You cannot fall past them, because they are always further down than the bottom you fear. When you drop, you drop into arms that hold.

That is a promise to lean your whole weight on. In seasons when everything feels unsteady, when you fear you are sinking and there is nothing to catch you, Moses' blessing says otherwise. The eternal God is your home, and his everlasting arms are beneath you, always, holding you up when you cannot hold yourself. You are not falling into nothing. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Let yourself rest on them.

Lord, you are my dwelling place, and underneath me are your everlasting arms. When the ground gives way and I fear I am falling into nothing, remind me that your arms are always further down than the bottom I dread. Catch me, hold me, and let me rest my whole weight on you.