It's Blessing Time

Day 19 – It's Blessing Time

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “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.”
– Numbers 6:22-27

At times, we all have to be reminded how really blessed we are. Seasons of misfortune and suffering can be misleading as one “who misses the forests for the trees.” Even to the point where God’s love and care for us is on trial in the courtroom of our minds. We want to resign “reading our book because we don’t like the chapter.” However, our passage in Numbers 6:22-27 should alleviate these concerns and hopefully restore our confidence in God, who in this passage, initiates a flurry of blessings upon His people as in this benediction.

After lengthy chapters of legal and ritual requirements, Numbers 6:22-27 offers a break of “do not’s” and prepares Israel for where all this was headed in the first place. In this passage, God specifically instructs Moses to command Aaron to pronounce blessings upon His people. These blessings would be a conduit to manifest the richness of God’s presence through promises of success, prosperity, health and victory over opposition. What a mind-blowing experience this must have been for Israel.

The Hebrew word for blessing is “Barak” and is used over 200 times in the scriptures. It was a sign of God’s favor as “a bended knee” making accessible heaven’s presence, protection and provision as a conditional promise of faithfulness.  

Today, the same rings true in our ears and hearts. Our devotion and holiness to the Lord is a sign that the efficacy of Christ’s substitutionary atonement, and our righteousness in Him as a result, is working and His grace wasn’t given to us in vain. Furthermore, in Christ, we are now able to “live, move, and have our being.” 

Moreover, commitment and faithfulness to Yahweh was all that passage is asking for. That we, as His people, would become image bearers of His name and teach our families the same. The Lord in return would: 

1. Cause His favor to overtake us 
2. Protect us from enemies and ourselves
3. Reward us with His presence so that all could benefit
4. Be accessible to our prayers and well-being

Finally, we should see this year (2021) as a year of “Pivoting to Purpose” by making the requisite adjustments, consecrations, and commitments, so we can experience unprecedented fruitfulness in God’s Kingdom. 

Wolfgang Watkins
Vice President of Spiritual Formation, Christian Union