Moses blesses each tribe individually, naming particular gifts and calling. Judah gets leadership. Benjamin gets God's presence. Joseph gets abundance. Each tribe recognized for something specific.
My father blessed me this way when he was dying. Not a generic blessing, but something specifically about who I am. About my particular gifts and calling. It mattered enormously.
Moses is showing something about how blessing works. It's not one-size-fits-all. It's particular. The same God sees each tribe and names something specific about how that tribe is meant to flourish.
I think about how we raise children - trying to make them all the same shape. Pressing the artistic child toward math because that seems more valuable. Pushing the quiet child toward leadership because we think that's what success looks like.
But Moses suggests blessing means seeing each one and naming their particular gift. What is it that this tribe - this person - is made for? What unique purpose do they carry? The blessing is recognizing that.
I'm trying to do this with my grandchildren now. Not trying to shape them into what I think they should be, but seeing what they actually are. What are their gifts? What's their calling? How can I bless the specific person they are?
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