“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:12-13 NKJV)

When we get to the book of Numbers, the children of Israel have been brought out of Egypt into the wilderness by God under the direction of Moses. The children of Israel have listened and obeyed and have seen with their eyes the power of a holy God. Things are going beautifully, and God wants to bless the children of Israel – His children. In Num. 6:22-27, through Moses, God tells Aaron and his sons (priests) to speak the following blessing over the (obedient) children of Israel:

“The LORD bless and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

By this, the priests would invoke the name of God over the children of Israel – His children – and bless them.

By the LORD’s own words to Moses – through Aaron and his sons – to the children of Israel, God wanted to bless their obedience to Him by putting His name on them, and to watch over them and guard them, and to show favor to them, and give them peace. 

To find favor in the eyes of a holy God and then to have him speak over us to bless us…

As believers, we are adopted into the family of God through our belief in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By this, we too have that same favor from our Father in heaven.  In our obedience to the calling by God through Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father puts his name on us and watches over us and guards us and shows favor to us and gives us peace.

As a child of God, we are to fear nothing for He is always with us. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want… (Ps 23). Our peace is real and tangible. Thank you, Jesus…

Ps. 128:1 “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.”

Prayer

We praise You, Father – the creator and giver of life, who loves us and wants a relationship with us; that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are we saved and brought back into relationship with a holy God. In obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we need not fear death or pain or suffering, for we are loved by You and watched over and blessed by Your perfect peace. In all these things, we give You all honor and glory in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior… Amen.

(Hope For Life Ministries, 2026)