Naso
Leviticus 4:21-7:89

This week, our Torah portion continues to describe the organization of the Tribes as they are about the leave for their journey to the “Promised Land”. At the end of chapter six we encounter Moses receiving the famous benediction that Aaron is to pray over the people as they prepare to leave.  This is the benediction that we pray each week over the children before we release them to Junior Congregation. It is found in Numbers 6:24-26     

The LORD bless you, and keep you;  ²⁵ The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;  ²⁶ The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'

This week we want to understand this benediction phrase by phrase.  As is typical in Hebrew poetry, each line consists of two phrases that are “parallel”. This means that the second phrase somehow relates to the first phrase. In the Benediction, the second phrase narrows down the meaning of the first phrase which serves as a generalization.  The first line is a prayer that God would bless the people. That is a general statement. It is narrowed down by the word “keep”. The Hebrew word means to “protect”. It is a prayer of protection. The children of Israel were going on a journey that required the protection of God. We also are on a journey in this life that requires the protection of God.  What does it mean to be protected by God? In the text of the book of Numbers, it must not mean that bad things do not happen. There were lots of difficult events taking place in the wilderness. There were wars, corruption, infirmities and difficulties of all types. God protected them in that they remained chosen of  God and that God did not leave them nor did he forsake them. Psalm 94:14   For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." (see Hebrews 13:5).   When Yeshua sent out the disciples, the last thing He said to them was “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matt. 28:20.  No matter what our circumstances may be, God will never leave us and always protects us - not necessarily from circumstances - but from things that would rob us of our spiritual inheritance.  In other words, He protects the gift within us.

          The second line of the benediction is a prayer that God’s face would be radiant as he looks on the children of Israel . Literally it says “may his face be light (shine) on you. Specifically this means to show “grace” or “favor” to His people.  In the context of most passages in the Hebrew Scriptures dealing with God and man, “favor”  refers to God providing deliverance for His people. The specific form of favor includes forgiveness especially, but also restoration to the land, victory in battle, and relief from drought, famine, and personal distress.  (Ex. 34:6; Ps. 4:1, Ps. 6:2, Amos 5:15, Ps. 51:1).  Isaiah 30:18 says that   the LORD longs to be gracious to you.  God desires to show favor; to be gracious. In Psalm 81 we read that if we would listen to the voice of God He would show great favor: Psalm 81:13-14  "Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!  ¹⁴ "I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.  There is another meaning to this in the commentary by Rabbi Hirsch. According to him, “may his face shine” refers to the gracious work of God of shedding knowledge and understanding upon us so we can live out the commands of Torah. He refers to it as “intellectual blessing”.  In Yeshua,  we are delivered from the bondage of sin. God is always showing us favor in giving us new life in Him today.

          The third set of blessings  asks that God lift up his countenance (lit. face) with the second phrase giving the meaning of this: setting his peace upon his people.  This is in a sense the climax of the Benediction.  God’s protection and his deliverance adds up to His peace being placed upon His people.  In Hebrew the word for peace is “shalom”. It does not simply means “absence of war”. It means “wholeness” or “harmony” or “completeness”.   The ultimate blessing upon us is that we would be complete in Him; whole in Him. It means that our trust, our satisfaction, our  validation comes through God.  for the children o Israel it meant that God would insure the destiny of the Jewish people. For us the benediction is a prayer that  God would be our provision in this world leading to the world to come.  He would be our healer, our identity, our assurance.   Also, the text does not say “give” you peace. It says “place peace on you.”  In other words, it is not a gift to the people per se, it is a “mantle” placed upon them. “Peace” belongs to those who are called of God.  While the N.T. says that Yeshua “gives” us His peace, it is placed upon us.

          The final line of the passage says, Numbers 6:27  "So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel , and I then will bless them."   The word “invoke” is the same word used in the previous line describing the “placing” of peace upon us.   So in the same way the presence of God is placed upon the people of God. His Name refers to His presence.  Where God’s name dwells is where He dwells. In the final analysis, the benediction is a prayer that the presence of God would always be upon the children of Israel .  Where God is present is where there is protection, deliverance, wholeness. It reminds me of the words of Paul Wilbur’s song “In your Presence”.

In your Presence, that’ where I am strong

In your Presence, O Lord my God

In your presence, that’s where I belong

Seeking you face, touching your grace

In the cleft of the Rock, in you presence O God.

My the Aaronic Benediction give us all the assurance of God’s blessing.

Shabbat Shalom!