Did The Blessing Stick? - Monday Manna

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in the Linky Tools gadget below, and check out others' thoughts.

This Monday's verse, courtesy of my loving husband (and, of course, his Heavenly Father), has a long history in my life, and that of the Jewish people in general. Yet, I'd never really thought about how rich it is until recently.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 NIV

This passage is  known as the Aaronic, or Priestly, Benediction. It was the words the High Priest was to use to bless the Israelites.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Mine are below.

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On May 29, 1994, Cantor Mark Child put his hands on the head of me and my husband and recited the words above, just after he pronounced the two of us husband and wife. I didn't think a whole lot about it then: partly, I'm sure, because the whole "I'm married"  thing was at the forefront of my mind.

In a lot of ways, that was a lifetime ago. Two of the largest turning points in my life--my salvation and the appearance of my husband's health issues--happened since that day. But what about that benediction? Have I received the blessings that were pronounced over me and my husband 12 days shy of 16 years ago?

The LORD bless you and keep you;

Where do I start? I am blessed by the Lord in so many ways. A loving husband. Two wonderful kids. Incredible Christian friends. God's Holy Spirit. Salvation from my sins. And there is no doubt that the Lord has kept me as His child, ever since the moment I became His child through His Son, Jesus Christ.

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

Grace - God's riches at Christ's expense. Yes - I have been inundated with the grace of God, despite my complete and total lack of worthiness. And that's just the beginning. Every blessing the Lord has given me - every time His face has shone upon me - has been an example of his graciousness.

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Did you catch that? When His face is toward you, you have peace. We have no need to cower from His look, to turn away in fear of what He will do. Because I am His child, whenever I truly face him--whether in hope, grief, weakness, strength, or joy--He will give me His peace. And I can honestly say that He has kept this promise. The only time I lacked this peace was when I turned away--hid from His face something.

So, I am the recipient of the Aaronic Benediction - both in word and in action. This blessing, pronounced over me by a nonbeliever before I had accepted Christ, has been, and continues to be, fulfilled.

And you too have been blessed this way. Can you see it?

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Thanks for reading. Looking forward to checking out your thoughts on this topic. Please link up in the gadget below, and drop by other participants' posts to see what they have to share!




Paving Rough Roads With God's Presence