Observation: Moses is told to teach Aaron and the future priests this pronouncement, as a special blessing upon the nation of Israel. There are six elements:
-- Blessing
-- Protection
-- Joy
-- Grace
-- Favor
-- Peace
Five of these are for Israel ... for them to receive all they need, be kept safe from everything both natural and of men, and receive special attention from the Lord. However, one of these is related to the Lord ... his face radiating with joy because of his people. This seems different. It is not a one-way transaction from God to the people, but rather it is an element of their two-way relationship. This is interactive and responsive. It is about the Lord seeing the people, and smiling because of them with a joy that certainly radiates back to them.
In seeking the Lord with this blessing, then, there is acknowledgment that God's people desire his loving gifts, however there is also a wish that our interaction with the Lord creates a joy that permeates the relationship.
Application: I often ask the Lord for blessing ... protection, favor, peace, and grace. I don't think I have ever asked him to beam with happiness over me, or laugh at my little behaviors, or smile upon my work dedicated to him. Yet in this special blessing, this is the interactive relationship to be sought, one in which joy is created out of God's perception of me.
I would love some of God's radiant joy! So I should be seeking an interaction in which he finds joy in me.
Prayer: Lord, may I this day pursue the work and activities in which you find enjoyment. As a child loves the approving smile of a father, so I would love to create some joy between us this day and every day. In assigned work, daily thoughts, or simple service, may I please you. Amen.
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