February 9 / Numbers 5-6

Numbers 5-6

So, what to discuss today…

We could talk about the importance of confession of sin, along with how making restitution might compare with penalties like prison time. (Num. 5:5-10)

Or we could dive into the quagmire of the “test for adultery” with its attendant battle of the sexes coupled with a hint of the Spanish Inquisition. (Num. 5:11-31)

Or we could look at the Nazirite vow (Num. 6:1-21), but as interesting as that might be, it does not get much further press. (The only person in the Bible who is specifically called a Nazirite is long-haired Samson, but he is a horrendous example. We’ll see his story in Judges 13-16. Otherwise, we have only hints of this practice with John the Baptist in Luke 1:15 and Paul in Acts 18:18.)

Or we could focus our attention on the true highlight of these chapters, what has become known as the “Aaronic Blessing”:

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

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.

“So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27

I’m guessing that most of us are somewhat familiar with the blessing itself, “The LORD bless you and keep you…” It is quoted frequently to this day, both in synagogues and in churches around the world. Parents pray this blessing over their children at bedtime. We use it at St. Andrew’s as a farewell when those dear to us are called away to some other location. These words are well worth meditating on and well worth memorizing to drive deep into your soul so that you can pray them readily.

But what strikes me here is that even though we call it the “Aaronic Blessing”, it is not Aaron’s idea. Rather, the LORD Himself gives the instruction to Aaron to pronounce this blessing over the people. The LORD, of course, is free to bless whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses — with or without our prayer. But He tends to like to involve people in the process, so He invites (commands) Aaron and his sons to participate.

So it is with us with regard to prayer in general. God is fully capable of administering His universe without a single suggestion from us as to what His priorities ought to be. He knows our needs before we ask Him. (Mt. 6:8) In fact, He knows much better than we do. (Rom. 8:26) But in His love for us He delights in giving us a role to play, a way to participate and not just spectate. He invites our prayers and supplications, and He encourages us to bless one another. To me, this interplay between us finite creatures and our sovereign God is a mystery that I cannot fully comprehend, but it is a beautiful one nonetheless. “So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”