"May the Lord bless you and keep you"

Numbers 6:24-26 is considered to be one of the best and most beautiful blessings in the Bible, and one of the most widely used benedictions. The book of Numbers was written by Moses during the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. Numbers is considered to bridge the gap between the time when the Israelites received the Law and preparing them to enter the Promise Land. The book of Numbers in a nutshell is about the goodness and severity of God. The severity of God is brought about by the death of the rebellious generation of Israelites. God's goodness is received by the new generation, in which God has protected, provided, and preserved for these people until they take the land that was promised to them.

Why write about Numbers 6:24-26? This verse has been on my mind a lot. It's a verse that has been given to me quite a few times by others in the offering of hope and encouragement and it's a verse that I've given to others. The other day, I came to visit my parents, and there on the bed was a laminated paper with this exact verse on it. It seems to be that this specific verse has been following me around.

Why? I couldn't give you an exact answer. The Lord often speaks to us in many ways, however, in our human weakness, we cannot always understand Him. I'll be honest, I've been struggling a lot and perhaps this verse is God speaking to me. Pouring out His blessing on me. In Numbers, we find the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Quite honestly, I feel as though I am wandering in my own wilderness. Yet, the Lord was faithful to the Israelites and the Lord will be faithful in my own wilderness.

The word "bless" when translated to Hebrew is barakh. In the Hebrew language, the word"bless", has a much deeper meaning, which brings attention to God's respectful provision. The word "bless" tells the readers that God will provide for His children in the ways that they need. Notice that, the word need, not want. God will provide for what we need. It's hard to accept that sometimes, what we need and what we want are very different at times. God knows what we need and He also knows what we want. The difference is that He's more focused on what will actually be beneficial for us. What will help to grow our character, to mature us, to stretch us, and allow us to step into the person He has called us to be. Sometimes, what we want doesn't align with what we need and that's a tough spot to be in. That's why we must have faith in God. Faith that He will provide what is best, even when we cannot understand.

The word "keep" when translated to Hebrew is shamar. Which means to guard and protect. God will provide a hedge of protection over and around His children. So, when we read in Numbers 6: 24, "May the Lord bless you and keep you", God is saying that He will provide for and protect you. That's quite a blessing.

Yet, there's more to God's blessing. Numbers 6:25-26 says, "the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." When God makes his face shine upon you, it's the receiving of God's favor. God wants His favor to be upon our lives, yet it is up to us if we are willing to receive Him and His blessings. The last part of God's blessing upon us is grace and peace. In this, God is showing us exactly what He wants for us: peace and grace.

The Lord poured this blessing out onto us and today, we, as Christians, have the ability to pour this same blessing onto others. While this blessing is short, it shows us how deeply God loves and cares for us as believers.

Lord, I thank you for the blessing you've poured out onto us. I thank you that you will provide for us exactly what we need. Lord, at times it may be hard to accept and understand that but we thank you nonetheless. Lord, thank you for your protection, for your grace and peace. May, in our times of wilderness, we remember this blessing that you have given to us and find rest in it. Amen.

* Check out my blog, The Blessing, as I go into more detail about Numbers 6:24-26 and how it ties into the song called the blessing and how the Lord was moving in my life.