For forty long years, Moses followed God and led the Children of Israel through the wilderness. Then, Moses delivered his farewell address, pronouncing a blessing on each of the twelve tribes.

Today’s verse was originally spoken to the tribe of Benjamin: a small tribe descended from Jacob’s youngest son. It is the only blessing to call the recipient “beloved.”

What better blessing could God give to people who literally spent their entire lives traveling? When walking long distances, the best way to transport your belongings is on your back.

Once a person hoists their load, it rests between their shoulders. This is where God promises His children He will stay, protecting them every step of their way.

In 2014, backpacking enthusiast Michael O’Shea, a physics professor at Kansas State University, published his research indicating that smaller people could carry heavier pack loads than larger people.

According to O’Shea’s calculations, a 110 pound (50 KG) person is capable of carrying a pack that weighs nearly 50 pounds (22.6 KG), but a person who weighs twice as much can carry a pack that weighs only 37 pounds (16.8 KG).

When God dwells with His beloved, our size doesn’t matter. He provides us with shade and safety. He promises to live where we carry our burdens, shielding us from danger and blessing us everywhere we go.