In Numbers 6:24-26, Jesus commands the priest to pronounce these benefits on His people: Verse 24 The LORD bless you and keep you. Verse 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. Verse 26 The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.
When I was younger, I would get homesick for my parents and brothers when I was away from home for long. Now I miss my wife and children when I am away from them for extended periods of time. I yearn to see them, waiting with expectancy and concern until I finally see their faces. What a joy and relief it is when I finally get to see them. Christ’s people have that same anticipation when we think of finally seeing Jesus face to face.
Last time I mentioned Norman Clayton’s hymn, “We Shall See His Lovely Face.” Here is stanza 2 of that hymn: God shall wipe away all tears some bright golden morning, When the journey’s ended, and the course is run; No more crying, pain or death in that home of gladness, Trials cease, all is peace, when we see His face.
I am interpreting these Scriptures in a Christ-centered way, a Trinitarian way. If you missed them, you can go back and read Jesus’ Blessing Part 1 and Part 2. We looked at Verses 24 and 25 in Parts 1 and 2, now we examine at Verse 26.
Verse 26: The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace
God the Holy Spirit’s people have His special attention and approval. He cares for and protects us and assures us of His presence, His provision, His pardon, and His peace. The Biblical concept of peace (shalom) is deep, rich, and sweet. It is not just the absence of conflict or war, but God’s all-embracing completeness and wholeness. Shalom is expressed in Jesus’ statement, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”1 The Spirit gives Christ’s followers overflowing fullness of joy, peace, and strength for our mind, emotions, body, and soul. He gives us safety, security, health, healing, and calmness even in hard times. He gives us contentment in Him, His friendship, and peace with God and other people. The Holy Spirit gives us all these blessings that encourage us to give ourselves back to God and to our neighbors. When Christians greet each other or say goodbye saying, “Shalom”, we mean, “May the Lord fill you with His well-being, health, and prosperity.”
Isaiah 26:3,4 says that the Spirit will keep in perfect peace people whose thoughts turn often to Jesus! We trust in the Lord forever, for He is our solid, immovable, eternal Rock of salvation. Based on this Scripture, Spurgeon says believers have perfect peace in Christ because: Looking UPWARD, you see no burning wrath shooting at you; Looking DOWNWARD, you’re not condemned to hell; Looking BACK, you see all your sins blotted out; Looking BEYOND, you see Jesus’ glory shining in the future; Looking OUTWARD, you know God works ALL for your good; Looking INWARD, you have peace that transcends all understanding, guarding your heart and mind in Christ. The Lord is so good to us! Meditate on each of these phrases, asking the Spirit to help you taste and experience these blessings for yourself.
One Day, We Will See Him
In this life, Jesus’ followers trust an unseen Savior. Peter writes, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”2 When Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, face to face.3 That’s right; whoever worships Jesus, lovingly doing what He commands, and repenting when we stumble will see Christ face to face one day! This was Job’s blessed hope:
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”4 This hope is what kept Job from sinking and keeps all God’s people from falling apart. Even as we walk through darkest times, through the valley of the shadow of death, through the grave, Jesus’ people are not overcome by fear and dejection. Christ is with us, near us, protecting, guiding, and comforting us.5
Here is stanza 3 of Norman Clayton’s hymn: We shall meet to part no more, some bright golden morning, At the gates of glory where our loved ones stand; Songs of vict’ry fill the skies in that hour of greeting, Endless days, endless praise, when we see His face.
Conclusion. In the Book of Numbers and in much of the Old Testament, the Lord seems stern and rigorous. Numbers 6:24-26 reminds us that God’s overall, overarching goal is to save us and give us His richest blessings and peace in Jesus Christ. What a glorious day His returning will be!
Prayer. Holy Spirit be gracious to us and bless us and make your face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May all the peoples praise you and be glad in Christ and sing for joy. Rule all peoples with equity and guide all nations of the earth. Make every knee bow to Jesus and every tongue acknowledge that Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, so that all the ends of the earth will fear you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.6
Notes (various translations used): 1 John 10:10. 2 1 Peter 1: 3 1 John 3:2. 4 Job 19:25-27. 5 Psalm 23:4. 6 Prayer adapted from Psalm 67 and Phil 2:10,11.