Title: Heaven can’t wait to bless you
Scripture Reading: Numbers 6:23-27
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
The Kohanims
Number 6:24-26 is often call the Aaronic blessing. It seems to be a threefold repetition of the covenant name for God. Verse 24, 25 and 26 starts with ‘The LORD’ (YHWH).
The Aaronic blessing seems to designate ‘wholeness.’ The term ‘peace’ is found in verse 26. It is the Hebrew term for ‘wholeness.’ So, when you are whole, there is peace in your life. It is wonderful to be blessed by YHWH.
23 mentions the priests’ blessing in YHWH’s name, thus implying that this is a general blessing to be given to all Israelites at times of worship.
In Christianity, this passage of scripture is frequently referred to as, ‘The Priestly Blessing.’
- The Command to bless the people
Numbers 6:22-23, ‘And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:’”
Firstly, the verse, ‘this is the way you shall bless.’
Secondly, the priests were always there pronouncing this blessing at the chose of the daily morning service.
Thirdly the priestly blessing follows the section on the vow of the Nazirite.
- YHWH’s actions and attitude toward the blessing.
Notice the verbs related to YHWH’s actions and attitude toward the ones receiving the priestly blessing.
a. The LORD bless you.
This blessing is not requested of by the children of Israel.
We must remember also that God’s blessing has always in mind our greatest and highest good.
Luke 12:15 says ‘Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Luke 12:21 says, ‘Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.’
b. And keep you.
YHWH’s blessing power is never separate from His keeping power.
How is God’s keeping power shown. Jesus said, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
c. The LORD makes His face to shine upon you.
The ‘face of God’ is his personality that is turned towards man, or else turned away from man.
Here God is described as human whose face shines on you. This is made possible when God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, who has since then shone his face upon you.
d. And be gracious to you.
The idea here is that God would show tender mercy and care for His people.
e. The LORD life up His countenance upon you.
The priest was to pray that God would look upon His people; when He blesses, keeps, shines, and is gracious toward His people.
f. And give you peace.
This is referring to YHWH putting, his name on you.
- It’s a Gift
You don’t do anything to earn Aaron’s blessing. You don’t take any action to get the blessing. The blessing is simply given by a gracious God, and your only job is to receive it.
In conclusion, we lived in a cursed world. It happened in the Garden of Eden. Because of the sin of Adam, the ground is cursed. All our lives, we struggle to scratch a living om it. The ground will grow thorns and thistles for us. We eat by the sweat of our brows. We return to the cursed ground from which we were made dust. Woman will give birth in pain. Our paradise is lost because of God’s judgement. But God then sent his son Jesus Christ, to restore blessings to us. Jesus went about restoring blessing to the physical body, mental health, social health. But instead of blessing he became a curse. For the bible says cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. But when Jesus was resurrected, he made possible the blessings that originally is meant for us. All along, God wanted to bless us, but we sinned against Him. So, God made Jesus a curse to pay the punishment for us sin, so that we can be reconciled back to God. You know what is the answer to have blessings in your life? Indeed, to receive Yeshua (Jesus) is to receive the blessing of God. 1 John 5:12 says, ‘Whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have the son does not have life.’
