God with them

 Christ in all the scriptures

The God who blesses Israel      Deuteronomy 33v1-5

It is no coincidence that the chapter which details the blessings upon Israel (v6-25), begins and ends with God; the presence of God with them (v1-5), and the power of God for them (v26-29).  All blessings flow from God as redeemed people walk step in step with Him.  Moses ends his public service for God with blessings on Israel; Jesus begins His public ministry with blessings on His disciples (the beatitudes of Matthew 5v1-12).   

The Presence of God with them   33v1-5

"And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them, He shined forth from mount Paran , and He came with ten thousands of saints...".

The description is amazing, for it likens God's majestic presence with them to the rising of the sun each and every day, as He displays His holy light in their midst.  Notice the progression: He came...He rose up...He shone forth!  From the darkness the sun comes each morning, it rises high at midday, and it shines forth its blazing light until dusk.  This is God's daily care over His people.  They are no longer in the darkness of the fall, they dwell in the brilliant rays of His sunshine.  Each day of their life, and every place they go. He mentions Sinai, Seir, and Paran, each one taking them closer to the promised land, at whose borders they now gathered.

The thought here is of progression; God's people are journeying to a better land.  Each place mentioned reflects the high point of the migration.  Sinai, the place of covenant promise: Seir, the place of Divine comfort and compensation following the rejection by Edom, the land of the descendants of Esau, the brother of their father Jacob: Paran the place of Divine care where He sustained them in wilderness conditions.  He appeared to them first at Sinai. when He descended among them and set a table on the mount.  He remained with them throughout the wilderness journey.  This reminds us of Jesus, who said to His apostles, "Lo, I am with you always (literally all the days), even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28v20)

He was with them in glorious manifestation.  

"He came with ten thousands of His saints..." (saints is holy ones, the holy angels who dwell in His presence).    All the power of heaven is with them, note the repetition of this in scripture...Exodus 24v9-18; Daniel 7v9/10; Hebrews 12v11; Revelation 5v11.  The number 10,000 is the highest number in Hebrew, according to scholars; it is at least this number , but could be many more.  Myriads, countless, innumerable, are terms used to describe the angels of heaven who protect God's people.  Again this points to Jesus on the throne for His people, "All power (authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth"-Matthew 28v18.

He gave them holy instruction from His word, 

"...from His right hand went a fiery law for them...they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words".

Jesus said to His apostles, "...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v20.  Fundamental to fellowship with God is obedience to His word.

He was with them in love, and the power of heaven was for their sanctification and protection

"Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in thy hand...".  

The angels of heaven, who are "greater in power and might" (2nd Peter 2v11) than man, are at Jesus' disposal from the throne-refer Hebrews 1v13/14; Matthew 18v10; Matthew 26v53.  The love of Christ for His people, together with His protection of them are major themes in the bible.  His love for them is not mere sensual love, but sacrificial love for their eternal good, "Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it;  that He might sanctify and cleanse it through the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish"-Ephesians 5v25-27.

He was their royal majesty among them

"He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes were gathered together".

What distinguishes God's people from all others is the majestic, authoritative, and blessed presence of a loving God among us.  This will be the theme at the end of the chapter.  Would that in all our gatherings we could be aware of this!