Tag: Numbers 6:23-27
Week 25–Day 1–An Ancient Blessing
Scripture reading for June 15: Numbers 6:23-27 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.’ So shall they put My Name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.”
God always desires to bless His people and He is the source of all blessing on earth and in heaven. The word for blessing means to be highly favored and showered with good gifts that come through covenant relationship with God the source of all blessing. One of the blessings of God include a good wife or husband that brings you joy and children. God blesses those who work with increase. Rain is a blessing and seeds multiplying thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold are blessings. He blesses our food and water so that we have nourishment and a safe food and health in our bodies. (Exodus 23:25-26) Flocks and herds multiply and give milk and meat and fruit trees and vineyards produce harvests. Peace is a blessing promised by Jesus Christ. (John 16:33)
God instructed Aaron and his sons in the priesthood to bless His people by speaking a blessing over them. Since God is not a man that He should lie, everything He commands is true and will come to pass. The first phrase of this blessing simply states that the Lord will bless you and in the process of that blessing He will keep you from all harm and provide all you need for life and godliness. The next phase of this blessing declares God’s smiling countenance lifted up over you. The idea is that God is rejoicing over you and smiling with joy, giving you His peace. This blessing was to put God’s Name on His people, marking them as objects of His extreme blessing in His forever family.
As responders who represent God’s blessing to those we are sent to, we can rejoice at God’s blessing of us as well as others. As you go to an incident, picture God lifted up over you and His smile radiating approval and love, giving you peace. Better yet, in the New Covenant, Jesus is present with us in the Holy Spirit indwelling us with His joy and peace. Let it flow from you to others by the smile on your face! Amen.