NUMBERS 6:22-27 – BLESSING THE FAMILY
- Many of the email messages we receive or sometimes send are “forwards”. Someone passes on to someone else what he has received. This is sometimes good and sometimes annoying.
- Other than emails, what are some of the good things that we like to “pass on” to others?
- The message of salvation is the most important thing to pass on. 1 Peter 3:15
- As we learn God’s Word and enjoy its blessings, we should pass them on to others. Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 3:16
- There is still another way you can pass on the good things that God has done for you. It is by praying a blessing on others, especially those who know Jesus as Savior.
It is in Numbers 6:22-27 that Aaron and his family of priests are commanded to give a blessing upon the children of Israel. I feel that this blessing should be used by us today and that we have every right and responsibility to do so. God has blessed us. Let us pass on the blessing.
THE PRIVILEGE OF PRIESTHOOD – Vss. 22-23
- 22-23 – It was a privilege of priesthood for Aaron and his sons, the priests, to bless the Children of Israel.
- The priests had many privileges that the common people did not. They were the ones who could offer the sacrifices. They were the ones who could enter the holy place in the tabernacle or temple, and the high priest alone could enter the “Holy of Holies” to sprinkle blood on the “Mercy Seat” once a year.
- We no longer need the Aaronic Priesthood, but we have our Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:16-17, 7:24-25
- 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 – We are a royal priesthood who are to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.
- We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1-2
- We are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Hebrews 13:15
- We are to offer the sacrifice of good works. Ephesians 2:10
- We are to offer the sacrifice of sharing in the financial needs of the church, missionaries, and Christians in need. Hebrews 13:16
- We are to offer the sacrifice of prayer. Romans 8:3-4, Matthew 6:6, Ephesians 6:18, James 5:16
THE PRAYERFUL PRONOUNCEMENT OF PRIESTHOOD – Vss. 24-26
- The pronouns in this passage are singular. The whole group of believers is blessed as the individual is blessed. This blessing should be our desire and prayer upon each and every believer in our church.
The Lord bless thee,
- Notice our prayer needs to be to the Lord. It is only He who truly blesses.
- Each Christian has received many blessings. Ephesians 1:3
- If we as Christians already have these blessings, why should we pray for them to be blessed?
- The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
- “The basic meaning of the common verb samar (keep) is ‘to exercise great care over,’ ‘to perform carefully,’ ‘to give great attention to,’ ‘to guard.’ If Israel is under God’s watchful care, she will be kept safe from her adversaries and will pursue her life under the direct management of God.” (K. Harrison, Numbers, An Exegetical Commentary, (Grand Rapids Michigan, Baker Books, 1992), p.133) Psalm 121
- The Lord make his face shine upon thee…
- If the Lord makes his face shine upon us, that would indicate approval. It would indicate that God is smiling on us.
- You should want God to smile on each one of your fellow members of this congregation.
- You should want God to work in the life of each member of the congregation, so that if He can’t smile right now, God will do what is necessary to smile on them again.
- The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
- The New Testament blessings recorded in Scripture included a wish for grace, for God’s unmerited favor. We received that the moment we trusted Christ as Savior. However we never outgrow our need for more grace for daily situations and for God’s richest blessings in our lives. 2 Peter 3:18
- The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee…
- We should prayerfully desire that God would give us full attention, turn his face towards, “lift up his countenance upon” each and every believer. This means the believer is in good communication with God.
- When God gives us His full attention, it means that individual sin has been dealt with on the part of each believer and God is fully attuned to their prayers. Psalm 32:1-5
- The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
- It should be our prayer that the peace of God will rule inside of each believer’s heart.
- This was the desire of our Lord Jesus. It should be our desire for others. John 14:27, John 16:33
THE POWER OF PRIESTHOOD – Vs. 27
- God is saying, “As the priests put My name in blessing upon the children of Israel, I will bless them.” The power of the priesthood is the power of answered prayer!
- Why do our people not have a fuller grasp of the blessings of God in their lives? It is because we do not have the love or faith to ask God to give them those blessings! Mark 11:22-24
