Deuteronomy 33:6 – Don’t fail to witness for Christ

The first tribe that Moses blessed was the tribe of Reuben. It was probably because Reuben was the eldest of Jacob’s twelve sons. The blessing pronounced over them was for their preservation so that the tribes’ existence would not be affected. Moses prayed that the number of men would not be reduced. Logically speaking, if the men were few, the tribe would be wiped out with time. This was an indirect prayer, asking for the men in Reuben to continue to expand and not diminish.

Genesis 35:22 said that he went up to his father’s bed and defiled it. He sinned by having a sexual relationship with Bilhah, his father’s concubine. Also in Numbers 16:1-2, we were told that a few of his descendants joined in Korah’s rebellion against Moses. Knowing these, Moses indirectly asked that their past would not impact them to the point where their number would be affected.

In Numbers 32 we were also told that the leaders of Reuben and Gad requested to settle in the land east of Jordan. Verses 16-19 recorded their request. They said to Moses, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones; but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance. For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” This request would risk their men dying in the battle, thus reducing their numbers.  

This verse and the history of the tribe of Reuben motivate us first to pray for the preservation of our family. This would include praying for our spiritual family, both locally and the church worldwide, not to experience a reduction in the number of true believers. It had been reported that the Church is losing its influence and impact in the world today. It behooves us as concerned believers to pray for the preservation of the church so that we can continue to impact the world with our influence. So we remember the call of Jesus to be the light of the world and salt of the earth. We must live holy lives so that men may see our good works and give glory to the Father.