Inspired by Numbers
6:22-27
“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
We ask for many things when we come to God in prayer. We may ask for wealth, power, or the esteem
of others. We may ask for love, health,
or happiness. Even in our most fervent
and selfless prayers we may ask for wisdom, strength, or courage to do God’s
work in the world. But the truth is that
God has already given us all that we need.
In the litany from Numbers, God puts his name on the
Israelites, and thus blesses them. It’s
not just that the Israelites are blessed and kept; it’s that the Lord
has blessed them and kept them. It’s the Lord whose face has shined upon them
and been gracious to them. It’s the Lord who has lifted his countenance
upon them and given them peace. With
these blessings from the Lord, everything else will fall into place.
We belong to the Lord.
He’s created us, he’s redeemed us, and he sustains us. He has adopted us as heirs with Christ, and
has put his name on us. When we seek
those things that are contrary to his compassionate will for all humanity we
spurn his blessings, but when we accept that he is the one keeping us and being gracious to us, then no power or
element in the world can challenge the peace he gives us.
Let us pray. Gracious
Lord, you have called us your own. Help
us to receive your blessings, that we may recognize all the gracious ways you
act in our lives. Through Christ our
Lord, Amen.
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