October 7, 2021 -- Numbers 6:24-26 -- Lifted by Grace

Dearly loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face to shine upon you
   and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up His countenance upon you
   and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Moses asked the LORD “Please, show me Your glory”. Knowing this was too much, far too overwhelming for a mere mortal, the LORD replied “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my Name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33:18-19 ESV). It is a powerful revelation of the Name and the character of the Living God.

God, the Merciful, has determined to show unfailing graciousness toward His chosen people. Think of it. A drowning man is a terrible danger to any who tries to rescue him. In his panic and fear he is many times stronger than usual and in his blind hysteria he will drag down anyone who tries to help him. So it is with sinful people. We are drowning in our misery and sin. We flail against any would-be rescuer, insensible because of fear and therefore unable to understand the mercy and kindness being offered. Unless the LORD were Strong to Deliver and The Only Mighty Savior we would be without rescue, left to drown in the seas of sin and misery and oceans of moral turpitude.

This work of gracious salvation is beautifully captured by the words of Jesus in John 10 “My Father, Who has given them [the sheep who are those called to believe] to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:29-30). This is the graciousness of God, partially revealed to Moses is more fully exposed and revealed to those of us who are in Christ Jesus. Eternity will be even more excellent and beautiful and wondrous as we understand with ever-growing light all that the Triune God did in order to bring about the salvation of His people. Blessed be our God and King forever and ever. Amen.

Who is like You, Triune God~persistent in faithfulness and strong to save and gracious to bring this salvation to completion? There is no one and nothing in the vast stretches of the cosmos which could be compared to you. As the poet has said if the skies were scrolls and the oceans ink, still there’d would not be enough space to declare Your mercy, Your grace and goodness!
Great and amazing are Your deeds,
   O LORD God the Almighty!
Who will fear, O Lord,
   and glorify Your Name?
For You alone are holy.
   All nations will come and worship You,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.
Amen.
(The prayer ends with Revelation 15:3-4 ESV)

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