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 face upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
The Power of Divine Blessing
The book of Numbers brings us a very special passage that deals with the priestly blessing, found in Numbers 6:24-26. This passage is one of the best known in the Bible and is often used in religious ceremonies to bless people. However, there is much more than meets the eye in this passage. This Bible study will focus on a deeper understanding of the power of divine blessing and its application in our lives today.
The Priestly Blessing
First, let’s read the biblical text we are studying:
“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 face upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
This blessing was originally given by God to Moses to be said by the priests of Israel over the people. It is a very powerful blessing, consisting of three parts. Each part offers a specific blessing on the one receiving the blessing:
- The Lord bless you and keep you: this is a blessing of divine protection. God promises to keep and protect the one who receives this blessing.
- The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you: this is a blessing of divine grace and favour. God promises to have mercy and bestow his grace upon the one who receives the blessing.
- The Lord upon you lift up his countenance and give you peace: this is a blessing of divine peace. God promises to bring peace and tranquility to the one who receives the blessing.
This blessing is much more than just words. It is a declaration of blessing and an act of faith in God’s work in a person’s life.
The Blessing in the Bible
Blessing is a fundamental part of biblical teaching. In fact, blessings are mentioned several times in the Bible. In many cases, the blessing is seen as a means by which God brings favor and blessing upon his people. For example:
- In Genesis 12:2-3, God blesses Abraham and promises to make him a great nation and a blessing to all nations.
- In Deuteronomy 28:2-6, God promises to bless the people of Israel if they obey his commandments.
- In Proverbs 10:22 it says that “the blessing of the Lord makes rich; and with her brings no grief.”
Indeed, the blessing is seen as a powerful act of God at work in our lives.
The Importance of the Blessing
But why is the blessing so important? Blessing is important because it is a way of receiving God’s power and grace into our lives. When we are blessed, we are receiving a declaration from God that He is with us, that He is watching over us, and that He is working on our behalf. It brings a sense of peace and security in our hearts, knowing that we are not alone and that we have the support of Almighty God.
Furthermore, when we are blessed, we are acknowledging God’s sovereignty in our lives. We are recognizing that God has the power to bless us and that we depend on Him to receive those blessings. This helps us to maintain an attitude of humility and gratitude towards God.
The Power of Blessing in Our Lives
Now that we understand the importance of the blessing, let’s see how we can apply it in our lives today. Divine blessing can have a very powerful impact on our lives when we receive it and when we declare it on others. Here are some ways we can experience the power of divine blessing:
1. Receiving the Blessing
When we receive the blessing, we are opening our hearts and allowing God to work in our lives. It helps us connect with God’s power and remind us that we are not alone in our struggles and difficulties.
We should seek to receive God’s blessing daily, whether through prayer or receiving a blessing from a religious leader. When we receive the blessing, we are declaring our faith in God and our trust in his power to guide and protect us.
2. Declaring the Blessing on Others
In addition to receiving the blessing, we can also declare it on others. When we do this, we are exercising the power of God in our words and blessing the lives of others. This can be a very powerful way to encourage and strengthen those who are struggling.
We should look for opportunities to declare the blessing on our friends, family, and co-workers. We can do this through prayer, words of encouragement, or acts of kindness. When we bless others, we are channels of God’s blessing in their lives.
3. Living a Blessed Life
Finally, we can experience the power of divine blessing in our lives by living a blessed life. This means living in obedience to God’s commandments and seeking to do his will in all areas of our lives. When we live like this, we are opening our hearts to receive God’s blessings and allowing Him to work in our lives in powerful ways.
We can find many Bible verses that encourage us to live a blessed life. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14, for example, God promises abundant blessings to those who obey his commandments. In John 15:7, Jesus says, “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Here, Jesus is encouraging us to remain in fellowship with Him and in obedience to His Word in order to experience the power of divine blessing in our lives. When we do that, we can trust God to give us our wants and needs, knowing He is working on our behalf.
Furthermore, the blessed life does not mean that we will never face difficulties or challenges. However, it does mean that we can trust God to guide us and help us through these difficulties. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul reminds us that God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” That is, even when we face weaknesses or difficulties, we can rely on God’s grace to help us overcome these challenges.
Conclusion
Divine blessing is a powerful tool in our Christian lives. When we receive God’s blessing and declare the blessing on others, we are acknowledging God’s sovereignty and connecting with His power. Furthermore, when we live a blessed life, we are allowing God to work in our lives in powerful ways and relying on his grace to help us overcome whatever challenges we face.
May we seek God’s blessing in our lives daily and declare the blessing on those around us. May we live a blessed life, trusting in God’s power and grace to guide and protect us. And may we always remember that divine blessing is a precious gift from God that we should cherish and celebrate in our lives. Amen.
