by Randal Matheny

In Scripture, the Lord leaves little doubt about what he means when he refers to someone as a man or woman of God. The phrase doesn't occur often, but its use is always significant.

As Moses concluded his series of going-away discourses, Deuteronomy 33.1 states, "Now this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death" (NASB). One time in the entire Pentateuch is Moses called the man of God. So it must be significant here.

To be a man (or woman) of God implies a life that blesses others. Here's what this blessing entails.

1. This blessing imitates the creative God. The Lord's first act after creating man was to bless him.

"And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them; . . ." (Genesis 1.27-28).

Moses has been blessing Israel for 40 years, and his last act is consistent with his whole life.

The blessing gives a word which becomes the act. Though our modern society separates word and action today, the Lord blends them into one. For his word makes it so.

The man of God depends upon God to make the blessing come true.

2. As man of God, Moses also pointed the Israelites to God. His blessing begins by a focus on the glory and goodness of the Lord.

"The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And he came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones; At his right hand there was flashing lightning for them. Indeed, he loves the people; All thy holy ones are in thy hand, And they followed in thy steps; Everone receives of thy words." Deuteronomy 33.2-3

The man of God doesn't call attention to himself, but to the one who calls all to his holiness.

3. Moses blesses by presenting a future vision of each individual tribe (verses 6-25).

Starting with Reuben and ending with Asher, Moses foresees the wonderful possibilities of each tribe. He sets forth for the twelve family clans what God would have them be and do.

I remember as a child, when the local preacher and I folded bulletins one Saturday, he turned to me and said, "Randy, some day you will be a great elder." I took a while to recover from the shock of that thought, but he was fulfilling his man-of-God function.

Be a man of God, a woman of God, by imitating his goodness, pointing others to his glory, and giving hope by a vision of life with the Lord.