Grace and Peace

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  

Numbers 6:24-26

Forty years had passed, A second census was ordered by the LORD (26:2), only this time it was for a new generation to enter the Promised Land (plus Caleb and Joshua, 26:65). The gravity of unbelief had been enormous.

But God is true to His word. With this new generation would go His ancient blessing of grace and peace. I love this blessing—in my growing up days it was the one our minister ended each of his services with.

1.“The LORD bless you and keep you”:

In His blessing you as only God can do, He puts a “hedge” of protection around you (Strong’s). How awesome is that!

2.“the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you”:

“God's ‘face’ is the revelation of His personality (i.e., Himself) to people. It radiates as fire does, consuming evil and bestowing light and warmth, and it shines as the sun does, promoting life. God's graciousness refers to the manifestation of His favor and grace in the events of life.”*

3.“the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace”:

As God looks favorably towards you, acting on your behalf, He brings you shalom, His kind of peace, loving and complete (Strong’s).

Grace and peace continue in our lives today, wrapped around the love of God:

“His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
 His power no boundary known unto men;
 For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
 He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

  —Annie Johnson Flint

I walked through the neighborhood this morning and was totally blessed with the colors of spring. It was as if a whole new world had sprung from the earth, radiant with the warmth of April. How soothing are the blessings of God on my face, culminating with Jesus. May He sweetly smile on the winter of your soul.

Nancy P

*Constable, Sonic Light 

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.