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Learning With Aaron: Praying a Blessing

I have been in many prayer meetings when the word “bless” is used liberally. We ask God to bless people and bless groups and bless activities. Sometimes I suspect that we are being lazy. It’s easier to ask for a general blessing than to specify exactly what we are asking God to do. However, the idea of praying for a blessing from God for people is clearly biblical. But what would a blessing from God actually look like? What are we really praying for? Well God told Aaron to pronounce his blessing on Israel and he told Aaron exactly what to say. I’m think you’ve probably heard this “Aaronic blessing” before. So as we explore how we can pray for God’s blessing on his people, maybe this blessing will help guide us? At least it will be a start. 

Reading: Num 6:22-27

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the Hebrew structure of this blessing gives us an insight that the English doesn’t. It goes like this [where every bracket is a Hebrew word]: 

· [Yahweh] [shall bless you] [and keep you].

· [Yahweh] [shall light up] [his face] [to you] [and shall be gracious to you].

· [Yahweh] [shall lift up] [his face] [to you] [and he shall give] [his peace] [to you].

You will notice how the blessing grows as it goes. It gets bigger and bigger. This structure is designed to show that while the blessing of God may appear to start small, it will no doubt increase. God loves to bless. Because all Christians are now priests like Aaron, it is our privilege to pass the blessing of God on to his people. We now get to pronounce God’s ever-increasing blessing over others. And it’s so true. The blessings of God’s future for us are far greater than the wonderful blessings we have experienced so far. So let’s get blessing. There is spiritual power in the statement of blessing. 

But what does this blessing include? Well there are two pictures of God’s action in this particular blessing. If you look at the translation of the Hebrew above, you will notice how similar they are: “God shall light us his face to you” and “God shall lift up his face to you.” This blessing says that God’s face (representing his attention and presence) will light up and lift up. Let me explain.

1. May God’s face light up. We’ve all seen faces lighting up. Students on graduation day. People falling in love. Children when they see their parents. Grandparents when they see their grandkids. It’s a sign of joy and appreciation and desire to bless. Do you realise that you light up God’s face? He takes such pleasure in watching you and sharing your life. This is what we ask for those we pray for. The blessing of knowing that because of the grace of Jesus, they are precious. A delight to God. A deeply-loved child. A new creation. And as God’s face lights up, the complexion of everything in our life changes and God’s grace pours out to us.

2. May God’s face lift up. There are mentions in Scripture of God hiding his face from rebellious people (e.g. Deut. 31:18). Well this is the exact opposite. God’s face turns or lifts towards his people so that he can see their needs, hear their prayers, respond to their cries, watch over their lives, give them peace. Oh the delight of his watchful gaze and the resultant protection and peace. This is a blessing God longs to pour out on his children.

Of course, there is a lot more to God’s blessing than this, but it’s a great start.

Prayer Practice

Think of a few people that you love deeply and pray this blessing for them. Let it flow from your heart. Maybe you might even be able to pronounce it over them in their presence?