“May the LORD bless and keep you; may the LORD cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift his face to you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
I love this beautiful blessing God gave the priests who would pass it to the people. It contains protection and provision, but the best bit to me is the idea of an intimate relationship with God himself.
May the LORD lift his face to you.
In The Message*, it goes like this:
May God look you full in the face.
‘Full in the face’ is personal, attentive, and passionate. It is a picture of the very best of relationships.
I remember that moment so many years ago when I turned to follow Jesus. He looked me full in the face. The love that his face expressed was overwhelming and beautiful. That’s where I want to dwell, with him, face to face, with the passion that ‘love at first sight’ brings, coupled with an ongoing deep affection that never dims but grows into a peaceful existence of sitting in the presence of Jesus.
May the LORD cause his face to shine upon you . . .
*The Message is a reading Bible translated from the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures by scholar, pastor, author, and poet Eugene Peterson. Thoroughly reviewed and approved by twenty biblical scholars, The Message combines God’s word’s authority with conversational English’s cadence and energy. Download the YouVersion app to your phone or other electronic devices for quick access to The Message and other Bible translations. It’s a beautiful thing to have Scripture right at your fingertips.