12 October Numbers 6

The Lord bless you and keep you

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Blessing is an integral part of Israelite culture and takes different forms. One type of blessing, mentioned in the book of Numbers, was commonly used in everyday speech when people greeted each other and asked for God's favour on His people.

This blessing starts by addressing physical needs. "The Lord bless you and keep you" means that God will care for everything you need. Think about how much you care for your children or loved ones—God cares for us even more because we are His children. May the Lord constantly bring good into your life. May the Lord protect you and guard all that is sacred and precious about you.

The second part of Numbers 6:25 gives us hope that God will show His kindness to us, even when we make mistakes. God’s nature is full of grace toward His children. When God’s face shines, He is close, paying attention, and caring for us. His grace is His goodness, and His love is a sign of His mercy. Picture how someone's face lights up when they hold a baby, that’s how God looks at you. This shows that God finds joy in you. May you always remember how loved you are. Justice means getting what we deserve. Mercy means not getting the punishment we deserve. Grace means receiving more than we deserve. We all need grace—more and more grace.

The third part of the blessing asks that God focus on us and give us His full attention. When He turns His face toward us, we find peace. God's blessing is a gift of grace, and when He looks at us, He shows His grace in action. God has also promised that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:36-38 (ESV) “As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers”. Paul again confirms the stronghold of faith and a sacred mind in Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.

For the believer, this blessing should be a reminder of what one has in Christ. It should also be a prayer for a fuller understanding of God’s blessings in Christ and the corresponding feelings accompanying that understanding.

In conclusion, the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 is a powerful reminder of God's care, grace, and peace. It reassures us that God provides for our needs, surrounds us with His graciousness, and grants us His perfect peace. Just as God’s face shines upon us with love and joy, He remains close, offering protection and care, even when we fall short. His grace is abundant, and His mercy is unending.

As believers, this blessing reflects God’s promises to us and calls us to rest in His peace, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love. Romans 8 reminds us that through Christ, we are more than conquerors, and Philippians 4 encourages us to bring our worries to God, trusting that His peace will guard our hearts and minds.

May this blessing be a constant source of comfort and strength, reminding us of the grace we receive in Christ and the deep peace that comes from knowing we are loved, seen, and protected by God.