“‘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.”’

Numbers 6:24-26

Need some good news? Let’s unpack this blessing a bit.

“The Lord bless you…” – this blessing, given by God to the Old Testament priests via Moses, was to be given to the people. That said, it is just as binding and sure for us as it was for ancient Israel.

“…and keep you…” – to exercise great care over, to guard, or give attention to. (see also Psalm 121) The One who spoke the cosmos into existence is exercising great care over YOU, guarding YOU, and giving all his attention to YOU.  One may logically counter, “How can he give all his attention to just me when there are billions of people on earth?” I don’t know. You can ask him when you see him. This I know though: he can, and does. C.S. Lewis rightly stated,

“God’s love is so individual that if you were the only person ever created, Christ still would have died for you.”

“the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you…” – this means “to show you favor”; picture the beaming face of a parent for their child. You are his “pride and joy.”

“the Lord turn his face upon you and give you peace.” – in scripture a “fallen face” is one of anger. A “hidden face” is one of disappointment. But a “lifted face” (the meaning here in this blessing) means God has given us peace (offered through Jesus Christ; Cf. Colossians 1:19-20) in the midst of our storms, pains, confusion, and suffering. It’s why Paul always began his letters with “grace and peace to you…”

Jesus loves you, nick