Reading: Numbers chapter 6 verses 22-27
Quote: Warren Wiersbe:
• “If you were to remove the words ‘bless’, ‘blessed’ and ‘blessing’;
• From the Christian vocabulary,
• Our prayer life, congregational worship & preaching would be greatly affected.
• These are friendly words that we are accustomed to hearing and using;
• And life would be barren without them.”
• The words ‘bless’, ‘blessed’ and ‘blessing’;
• Are found over five hundred times in the Bible.
• And they describe such diverse things as:
• Rain, bumper crops, babies and most import of all salvation from sin.
Question: What is a blessing?
Answer: According to Warren Wiersbe:
“Any act of God that brings him glory by accomplishing his will
and helping his people grow and do his will”.
Of all the five hundred plus blessings contained in the Bible:
• This one in Numbers chapter 6 may well be the most quoted.
• Christian preachers & ministers often use them at the conclusion of a service,
• In our Churches we refer to them as “benedictions”
• Ill: Our word ‘Benediction’ comes from two Latin words:
• ‘Bene’ which means ‘well’; and ‘Dicere’ which means ‘to speak.’
• A ‘benediction’ is simply ‘a short invocation to speak well’.
• As Christians we often use them in the form of a prayer, a blessing;
• Usually at the conclusion of a service.
• Not only do Christian preachers & ministers use it at the conclusion of a service,
• But Jewish rabbis also use it to conclude synagogue services.
Let’s look at the passage:
(1). The author of the blessing – God (vs 22)
22 The LORD said to Moses,
23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
• Please note that God himself is the originator, the creator writer:
• He entrusted the blessing to the priests verse 22: “Aaron & his sons”.
• And they became the custodians of these words,
• In fact they were the only ones allowed to speak them in public gatherings.
• Even today, Jewish men are permitted to pray in public;
• But only the Rabbi may pronounce this or any other benediction.
Note:
• Although the priests in the Bible were able to pronounce the blessing;
• But they were unable to bestow it!
• They were simply the designated messengers;
• God alone is the donor and benefactor.
• Ill: That is shown in the way his name is used three times in the blessing.
• Verses 24 & 25 & 26.
• Ill: Also in the concluding assertion;
• Verse 27: “I will bless them”.
Question:
• We might want to ask is why?
• Why did God command Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites?
Answer:
• Because he wanted to bless His children. God is good and God is love.
• Ill: Cream Eggs and school & home with Kathy & Arlo.
• Ill: As earthly parents we want that which is best for our children;
• So too does God – he desires what is best for his children – not spoil but a treat!
Question: Now what did it mean to say, “The Lord bless you”?
Answer: The Hebrew word translates as ‘bless’ literally means “on bended knee”.
Ill:
• Ill: “Glory to God in the HIGHEST”
• Naughty children blotted out the letter ‘E’, so that it read; “HIGH ST”
We have a God who meets us where we are!
• Ill: To Abraham the Pilgrim;
• God came to him in Genesis chapter 18 as a traveller.
• Ill: To Jacob who had spent most of his life wrestling people;
• Ill: In fact even in the womb he was struggling and came out grasping Esau’s heel.
• God came to him in Genesis chapter 32 as a wrestler.
• Ill: To Joshua the General;
• God came to him in Joshua chapter 5 as a soldier – “the commander of the LORD's army”
Quote:
“God meets us at whatever level he finds us,
In order that he might lift us up to where he wants us to be”
(2). The recipient of the blessing – Israel (vs 23 & 27)
• Notice that the blessing is sandwiched between two instructions.
• The instructions are given to a specific group of people.
• Verses 23 & 27: tell us who they are:
• ‘Israelites’, that is ‘the descendents of Jacob’.
Israel is the only nation in history that has entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord.
• Ill: Psalm 147 verse 20 reminds us that;
• “...He has done this for no other nation....”
• Note: The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church.
• He created a covenant.
• There is a big difference.
• Contacts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise.
Ill:
I make an informal contract with my dentist;
• If as a patient I fail to keep an appointment,
• I may receive a bill for failure to turn up.
• BUT the dentist is NOT obligated to call the house and inquire,
• “Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?”
• The dentist simply goes on to the next patient;
• And has his appointment secretary take note of my no show;
• And I can expect to receive a bill in the post for failure to turn up.
• Because as a patient I broke our informal contract.
Ill:
• The Bible indicates that a covenant is very different to a contract:
• Is more like the ties of a parent to her child than it is to a dentist’s appointment.
• If a child fails to show up for dinner,
• The parent’s obligation, unlike the dentist’s, isn’t cancelled.
• The parent finds out where the child is and makes sure they are cared for.
• In a covenant one member’s failure does not destroy the relationship.
• A covenant puts no conditions on faithfulness.
• It is the unconditional commitment to love and serve.
Ill:
• God made a covenant with Abraham;
• He promised him a land.
• He promised him descendants as numerous as the stars.
• He promised to use him to curse or bless every other nation.
• God is a covenant keeping God!
• The expression “I will be your God and you will be my people”;
• Is a phrase used throughout the Bible until the very last page in Revelation.
• It is a reminder that God wants to stick with us!
Note:
• Although the blessing is in the plural;
• God is speaking to the community – to the people.
• The six “You” pronouns in this benediction are all singular;
• Indicating that God’s blessing was for the individual – that is every single Israelite.
Ill:
• At a football match announcements are made and mainly ignored (i.e. Church notices);
• Every so often one is made regarding a person (listen for your name) move a car. Etc.
• Ill: Imagine being surrounded by thousands of other travellers;
• For these Israelites it must have been easy to feel lost,
• Just one of a number in such a great crowd.
• But no-one need feel neglected or left out;
• Because six times God repeats & emphasises the singular ‘You’ - that is each individual.
Ill:
• He is the God of the individual – i.e. “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”;
• The God of individual believers.
(3). The blessing – threefold (vs 24-26)
• In our times and culture,
• We use the word ‘bless’ like people use the words ‘wish’ or ‘hope’
• Ill: New Christians in our own Church who say; “Good luck with your preaching!”
• They haven’t yet learnt the jargon.
• In the Hebrew mind blessing was certain and specific.
• It wasn’t casual or meaningless.
Question: If you could have any blessings from the LORD, what would it be?
Ill:
• Remember the story of Solomon who as a boy of twelve (or maybe fourteen);
• God appeared to him and offered him any wish that he wanted.
• If you were in his shoes I wonder what you would have asked for?
• Solomon we know asked for wisdom - and God was pleased with his request.
• Solomon did not make a selfish request i.e. asking God for what he wanted.
• But rather a wise request i.e. he asked God for what he needed to lead the people.
• When it comes down to life, there is a big difference;
• Between what we NEED and what we WANT.
• God has of course promised to meet the Christians needs not their greed’s.
• He has promised us daily bread and not strawberries and ice-cream!
This Blessing in Numbers chapter 6 reflects what we really need.
• In fact this one blessing is really three blessings;
• It contains three qualities that we can’t afford to go without in this world.
(1). “Keep us”
• The first quality is for the Lord to “KEEP us.”
• This word basically means “to exercise great care over.”
Ill:
• The Hebrew word for “keep”;
• Is used in connection with Shepherds and their sheep.
• It described the way shepherds out in the open land would use thorn bushes or a cave;
• To build a protective enclosure for the sheep and so ‘keep them’ safe from predators.
• The Shepherd would then lie down at the entrance and so become the living gate;
• Any wild animal or thief must past through them to get to the sheep.
• If that sounds a familiar picture it is;
• Jesus used it to describe himself in John chapter 10.
So when we pray this blessing we are asking God to “To keep”;
• That is to literally “build a hedge around” us.
• And the key idea is that of protection from harm,
• If that sounds a familiar picture it is;
• Apostle Paul used it to describe the effects of prayer in Philippians chapter 4.
• “May God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”
• In other words may God “build a hedge of protection around us”.
• To keep out enemies that would snatch away the blessings that God has given you,
• And may God keep you from wandering off.
(2). “gracious to you”
Ill:
• Most Christians have a favourite Book or verse of the Bible?
• Most Christians have a favourite Bible character or story.
• I wonder if you have a favourite name for God?
Quote:
“The Names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us.”
• I like the description found in Exodus chapter 34 verse 6 God said to Moses;
• “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God”.
Ill:
C. H. Spurgeon had an illustration he would use to depict ‘grace’.
• A large sum of money was given to a man called Rowland Hill;
• His job was to distribute the money to a particular Christian pastor.
• Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once,
• Hill forwarded just a portion along with a note that said simply, “More to follow.”
• In a few days the man received another envelope containing the same amount;
• And with the same message, “More to follow.”
• At regular intervals, there came a third, and a fourth. In fact, they continued,
• Along with those uplifting words, until the entire sum had been received.
C. H. Spurgeon used this story to illustrate God’s grace:
• “When God forgives our sins, there’s more forgiveness to follow.
• He justifies us in the righteousness of Christ, but there’s more to follow.
• He adopts us into His family, but there’s more to follow.
• He prepares us for heaven, but there’s more to follow.
• He gives us grace, but there’s more to follow.
• He helps us to old age, but there’s still more to follow.”
• Spurgeon concluded,
• “Even when we arrive in the world to come, there will still be more to follow.”
Ill:
This advertisement was seen on the side of a plumber's van:
• “There is no place too deep, too dark or too dirty for us to handle”.
• What a wonderful explanation of the Gospel!
• When you are prone to fail (like the Israelites did & like we are prone to do also);
• It is good to have one who is gracious on your side!
Quote:
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
(3). “Give you his peace”.
• This benediction started with a comprehensive term (‘bless’);
• It concludes with another Hebrew word (‘Shalom’)
• This word is translated into English as ‘Peace’.
• But that does not do it justice – it is a very rich word in meaning.
• It means so much more than the ‘absence of conflict’.
• It includes health and happiness, satisfaction and completion,
• Kindness and agreement, salvation and friendship, and the richness of a full life!
There are thousands of people in the world:
• Who have material benefits and financial security
• Yet they remain unsatisfied.
• Quote: J. R. Rockefeller was asked the question;
• “How much does it take to satisfy a man?”
• His reply was very insightful;
• “Just a little bit more than he has!”
We may not have all we desire and certainly not all the world seems to offer:
• But we have “Peace with God” – our sins are forgiven;
• Quote Psalmist: “Happy many times over are those whose sins are forgiven”.
• We also have “The peace of God”;
• “Which can guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.
Ill:
• Don’t forget when Paul penned those words in Philippians chapter 4;
• He was chained to a Roman soldier who stood guard over him night and day.
• Paul deliberately uses the military word here for ‘standing on guard’.
• God’s peace stands guard over us as his guards stood over him.
(4). The expression in the benediction – ‘Face’ (vs 25 & 26)
First mention of ‘face’ (Vs 25):
25the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
A persons face is very revealing:
• Ill: Often we can tell the emotions of people by the looks of their faces.
• Ill: As a preached you can tell when people have had enough.
• Ill: You can tell when someone is not happy because their face will be “downcast.”
• Ill: if you were happy – it was said that your face would “shine”.
Notice:
• What the blessing says about God’s face:
• “The LORD make his face SHINE upon you”
Ill:
• Think about the difference between rainy days and sunny days.
• Rainy days can often seem very unpleasant; dark, cold, windy & miserable.
• And yet that same day if the sun comes out;
• It is able to be transformed the same day into something beautiful.
How good it is to know that when the stormy weather of life hits us;
• When we find our spirits are dampened by the sadness of unfavourable circumstances,
• We can have God’s face shine upon us?
• His light helps us to see clearly,
• Brightening our understanding of what is going on;
• And how He is in control working out His purposes.
First mention of ‘face’ (Vs 26):
26the LORD TURN HIS face toward you
and give you peace." '
To understand this expression, just think of the opposite;
• “To turn your face away”
• Is to show displeasure, maybe hurt or anger.
• So to “Turn your face” is to show pleasure, delight;
• It means you have accepted and valued someone!
Ill:
• Have you ever been looking for someone in a crowd?
• Perhaps you’ve been to pick someone up at the airport or train station,
• Think of the moment when after all the waiting around;
• You finally make eye contact with the person you are looking for.
• Despite the fact that there are hundreds of people all around you:
• Suddenly in that place and at that time;
• You make a personal connection with someone that you know and who knows you!
• The face reveals acceptance and love.
(5). The conclusion of the benediction – ownership (vs 27)
“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them”
The benedictions conclusion speaks of ownership:
• To put ones name upon something;
• Was to give it the distinctive stamp or mark of ownership.
• Ill: How many of you have your names written in the front of your Bibles?
• Ill: Kids all have tags on their school jumpers and coats etc.
Quote: Raymond Brown:
• The Lord had put his name upon the Israelite people:
• Verse 24a: He was their bountiful giver.
• Verse 24b: He was their strong protector.
• Verse 25a: He was their faithful friend.
• Verse 25b: He was their forgiving lover.
• Verse 26a: He was their reliable partner;
• Verse 26b: He was their generous provider.
• Verse 27: He was their unique owner.
Numbers chapter 6 contains what is an incredible little benediction:
• As Christians we can enjoy those same blessings;
• And we find them all and more in the New Testament.
• God has truly blessed and continues to bless us;
• Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
Ill:
• Bruce Barton & the two seas;
• The dead sea & the sea of Galilee.
• Remember the principle:
• God blesses us that we might bless others!
