The Source Of My Blessing
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Numbers 5, 6 and Psalm 99 (NIV)
(Victor Chan, PTM for Pastoral Care Ministry)
READ:
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
OBSERVE:
Numbers 6:24 – 26 is often referred to as the priestly or Aaronic blessing which is often proclaimed during the benediction. They are God’s chosen words which He instructed Moses to tell the priests, Aaron and his sons, to use when blessing His people. It is God’s command where the words were not written by men. Three observations can be made from these verses.
Firstly, God is the source of all blessings. God’s name was repeated three times at the beginning of each of the priestly blessings, thus emphasizing that the people of God’s blessings come from God alone. He is the source and should be the focus. This is echoed in Ephesians 1:3 which states that every spiritual blessing is through Jesus Christ alone.
Secondly, God’s desire is to always bless His people. After creating Adam and Eve, the first thing that God did was to bless them (Genesis 1:28). The last thing that Jesus did before ascending back to heaven was to bless His disciples (Luke 24:50 – 51). God is a God who wants to bless.
Thirdly, God’s blessing is for every individual, not collectively as a group of people. This is because the word “you” in Hebrew, which occurred six times in these verses, is in the singular form. God’s blessing is unique and differs from one person to another. He sees each of us as individuals. He knows us individually. He understands and cares for us and he wants to bless us personally.
APPLY:
The priestly blessing has encouraged me to press on in my Christian faith and look towards Him always. God is ever ready to bless me, sometimes beyond what my physical eyes can see. I should not compare the blessings that I have with another’s, knowing that He will always give His best to me in His own timing and for my best interest. I recall the time when I was struck down with an illness and had to go through many medical check-ups, procedures, surgeries and treatments. I kept praying that God would miraculously heal and bless me with a strong and healthy body. However, I did not receive what I wanted. At that time, I felt that God had abandoned me. I was discouraged and disappointed. Whenever I heard the priestly blessing, I always wondered how it applied to me.
In fact, as I look back, God did bless me during my time of illness. He provided an experienced surgeon and doctors to attend to my case as my illness was unique. He upgraded my hospital stay twice: once during a procedure and another time after a surgery without additional charges. He knew that I needed much rest after my surgery and provided me with a single-bed room without me asking. My colleagues, out of their concern and care, stepped forward to cover my duties during my medical leave and the church leadership extended grace to me as I had to be on long hospital leave. Many church members and friends supported me in various ways. Indeed, these are all God’s blessings designed especially for me which I am thankful for. God is REALLY the source of all blessings and He blesses me in His unique way!
DO:
I will continue to keep the faith and fix my eyes on God, who is the source of all blessing, knowing He is ever ready to bless me in His unique way.
PRAY:
Father God, You are the God who blesses me and keeps me; You are the God who makes Your face shine on me and is gracious to me; You the God who turns Your face toward me and gives me peace, Amen.
