NUMBERS 6 (Specifically verses 21-27)
(The Priestly Blessing)
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In Numbers 6, God had spoken to Moses and the people of Israel, as to the way to turn their lives over to separate themselves to the Lord. There were a lot of things that had to be done, and a lot of time involved, in the proving out of their intent and the possession of their new identities.
All of these things had contingencies that must be met, and just from reading the first part of the chapter, you can see how physically and mentally hard these things would be! Wow! Verse 21 says:
“This is the law of the Nazirite who vows to the Lord the offering for his separation, and besides that, whatever else his hand is able to provide. According to the vow which he takes, so he must do according to the law of his separation.”
In verses 22-23, however, Moses was told by the Lord, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them…’” Then God spoke the resulting blessing and future for those who had faithfully kept their vows and made it all the way to the proclamation (verses 24-26):
“The Lord [will now] bless you and keep you. The Lord [will] make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord [will now] lift up His countenance upon you, and [will] give you peace.”
Then, in verse 27, God puts His stamp of approval on the process, with its desired result:
“So they shall put My Name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
If you read carefully through the whole chapter, you should see Jesus in the process. Jesus carried out His own sanctification (the act of being set apart to the Lord), by being the sinless “Son of Man,” and the spotless “Son of God.”
When He then died and resurrected, it was proven that He had kept His vows, and therefore, BY TAKING OUR PLACE, He preserved and presented to us the very same blessing, which was God’s full intent to Adam, and thus to Eve, and thus to all of us—their progeny. We can now–as possessors of the Name of Jesus–pray back to Him with full belief and confidence, at any time of the day or night, and in any situation:
“Thank you, Lord—my High Priest, that your blessing is on me to keep me. You are making your face shine upon me, and you are always gracious toward me. You have looked me full in the eyes, and because I have viewed your countenance of Grace and Truth, I now receive your peace.”
Amen
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
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