The Face of God
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. (Num. 6:25)
Numbers 6:22-26; Genesis 16:6-12; Psalm 31:14-16, 80:3
What Is God Saying?
God sees us. He makes His face to shine upon us. Hagar was fleeing from Sarai's angry jealousy. Then, an angel found her alone and forsaken by a spring in the far wilderness. The wilderness of Shur is the area through which the Israelites marched for three days following the crossing of the Red Sea. Then, in her distress, she became aware of the compassion of God. With gladness, she acknowledged the heavenly grace that sees and cares about human needs. God was looking out for her. When other faces were turned away, she said, ‘Thou art a God of seeing.’ How well she could have echoed David's thought (Psalm 27:10), ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.’ That is what is meant by the opening Iines of the great and ancient benediction,
‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you.’
David, who knew well what it meant to be friendless and alone, lifts his voice again in prayer and song. (Psalm 31:14-16). Once again, the face of God shines. God looks upon us with steadfast love when even our friends turn away their faces. This loving benediction has been used for many centuries. It is a beautiful prayer usually said by someone other than ourselves as a blessing for us. It can become your prayer, a constant source of strength and renewal. But there is one pre-requisite: turn in the direction you can see it.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Sometimes, as in Psalm 80:3, God needs to turn us around so His face can be seen. When He gets us looking the right way, we see how much He loves us. Then we realize that no matter how things seem, God is! And God is loving and compassionate. His face does shine. He does care. How we long to see Him who sees us! We want to experience His grace and compassion. But we must be willing to be turned around.
Pray With Me
Lord, You are a God who sees. Your face is always turned toward me, even when my sins, like a thick cloud, have risen to make You seem more distant, even when comforts and luxuries have made You seem nonexistent, even when hardship and trial have made You seem uncaring. Nevertheless, Your face is always turned toward me.
May this day be one when, through all clouds and darkness, the vision of Your face shall come. For when I see it truly, I shall see it shining. Your face shines with the grace of understanding. In the face of Jesus Christ, I see a God who cares. In Him, I see a God who listens to the faintest cry and heeds the wordless anguish of unuttered prayer. Your face shines with the grace of salvati0n. Let me rest in this healing peace because Your hand is not shortened. Your face shines with the grace of hope. By the resurrecti0n of Jesus Christ, by all the glory that streams from His empty tomb, by the splendor of His ascending into Heaven, by the promise that He is there even now making intercession for those who draw near to God, by His pledge that He will come again, we are born anew to a living hope.
All this I see in the shining of Your face. ‘In the light of a king's face, there is life.’ In the light of the face of my risen King, there is understanding, salvation, and hope. In the light of His face, there is life eternal.
To the praise of His holy and deathless love. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
Live in the confidence of God's shining face. It is not hidden behind clouds of fear around a throne of rigid, unapproachable Judgment for us who have embraced Jesus Christ, not now after we have received the gift of salvation by faith. Look, the sight is glorious. ‘For it is God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.’ Lay hold on to that truth. Face God with hope every morning, see His shining face in blessing through every day, and close each day still looking on His face. It still shines on you with the grace of understanding, salvation, and hope.
One more suggestion: Jesus said, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you.’ Let your face shine as a reflection of the shining face of God.
