October 8, 2021 -- Numbers 6:24-26 -- Understanding His Blessing Promised to Me

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

What a strange expression ‘lift up His countenance upon you’ is to our ears. Countenance refers to His face, and more specifically the expression of His face. Here we have a parallel of intensification—the LORD make His face shine upon you and the intensification is the LORD lift up His countenance upon you. By this two-fold reference to the LORD’s face, first His shining face is second His face which now lights up in protective, saving love as He sees you.

Early this morning I had to run an errand. The sky was still dark and streetlamps pierced the darkness, casting contorted shades and weird eddies of light and dark. As I was driving passing the edgy places where light and dark meet, I could catch glimpses of people who had slept on the cement frontage of businesses. Places dark enough for sleep but bright enough to avoid being the object of indignations which are perpetuated in inky blackness. Why mention such things? The LORD sees. God is telling us, He lifts up His face to see us—light or dark make no difference to Him. His eyes search out the whole earth. Where others might ignore, passing by as if this one or that person is not worthy of attention, the LORD sees each one of His children.

He lifts up His face intentionally looking at His people with the intention of blessing.

The LORD lifts up His face acknowledging His people, even when we, for shame or guilt might try to hide ourselves, aware of our sinfulness.

The LORD lifts up His countenance upon us, aware it is His salvation alone which can bring us safely through. This particular phrase of the blessing brings to mind an incident that happened a while ago. A man in addiction recovery was drowning in wave after wave of panic attacks. He’d be hallucinating all kinds of dreadfulness, his eyes flowed with fountains of tears—as if the pressurized anguish of his mind and body gushed through the spigots of his tear ducts. To calm him the counselor, with a deep, strong, steady and firm voice demanded “Look at me. Look at my face. See, I am smiling. I am real. I am here. You are not alone. The furies your hallucinations are causing this adrenal madness, but that is not as strong as the help being offered you now.” Infinitely greater, more peaceful and perfect is our LORD. It is the LORD, Who is Mighty to save, Who by the merest breath of His mouth can destroy demonic hosts, His face is lifted up towards you in Fatherly love. He invites you to look to Him and let all other raging forces and things fall powerless to the ground. Dear believer in Jesus, know the face of your Father in heaven is turned toward you, smiling reassuringly that His Spirit is working out His salvation in you.

Father in heaven, there are so many sirens and bells and whistles and taunts pulling my attention in so many downward directions. I confess I am Covid-weary. Whatever the newest lockdowns are called, I am so done and so angry. Spirit of God, move in me so that my eyes will meet the countenance of my Father in heaven. Spirit of God, reassure me that the Father's smile rests on me and therefore life means basking in the sunshine of His love. As the Father's penetrating gaze rests on me I know all the blessings which are mine in Christ are being brought to fruition in me. As by faith I see Your lifted countenance, may my life and lips sound out Your praise. Amen.

https://youtu.be/GL5VjnO7mB4