11 February | EVERYONE
«The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. » Numbers 6: 24-26
A fine smell of a lazy morning hung in the air, a grace of bright rays, a sigh, a breath of soft desert landscape, and many songs born of gratitude. That was how the people of Israel praised their God every morning. Then, as he took his leave, the priest blessed the people with the words of the priestly blessing. It was not a generic blessing. The people received the blessing, but the priest addressed each one as if he were the only person present.
However, blessing without divine protection is meaningless. That is why the priest said, “The Lord bless you and keep you.” If there ever was a blessed people, it was Israel. God had called Abraham, the father of the nation. He rescued his people from slavery in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, sustained them in their moments of weakness, and finally brought them triumphantly into the promised land. But what good did those blessings do? Centuries later, the enemy would come and take them captive. The reason was simple: Israel received the blessing, but it did not allow itself to be “kept” by the Lord.
However, God is merciful, and He visited His people many times, called them, insisted. He longed for His character to shine through in their midst and for them to enjoy peace and security. But the people rejected him. Finally, He came in the person of Jesus and wept, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).
From the past comes the lesson. God is a permanent source of blessing. The greatest is peace, born of a heart that is forgiven and transformed; but the blessing is fleeting and short-lived if we do not learn to be “kept” by God.
Take Action
Connected to God, His glory (i.e., His character) will shine forth in you. Ask for His Spirit and His peace today to face the challenges of your life. Sing “The Blessing” (if possible, with your family).