FOR WHOM THE FACE OF GOD SHINES

By Akin Ojumu

In demonstration of His matchless love for Israel and as a promise of His abiding presence with His people, the LORD instructs Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bestow a benediction upon Israel. 

Numbers 6:22-27

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ (Yevarechecha Adonai v'yishmerecha)

 יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיִחונֶךָ (Ya'er Adonai panav elecha v'yichuneka) 

 יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם (Yisa Adonai panav elecha v'yasem lecha shalom)

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

“The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

This is a prayer of God’s blessing, protection, provision and affection for His people. Whenever they bestow this prayer upon the people, Aaron and his sons put the name of the LORD upon Israel. ELOHIM, as it were, clothes His own people in the garment of His Name, i.e., His person, attributes, and character, whenever the Old Testament priests of Aaronic descent say this prayer.

What a prayer! What a benediction. You can’t but read the prayer and not be overcome with emotions. Each one of the six blessings in the prayer is like a fountain of water poured over a thirsty soul. Packed into these verses is the unfathomable love of YAHWEH for those who belong to Him.

In these profound verses, the LORD’s blessing is described as His face (i.e., His presence) shining on His people and looking at them. This is a beautiful picture of God holding us up in His hands and His countenance is full of approval and affection, the same way a proud father would hold up their child and beam with joy and pride. Here we see how the Almighty God lifts up His countenance…lifts up His face…upon us as He holds us up in unspeakable love, great delight, and everlasting joy. 

David also echoed this sentiment in the Book of Psalms when he prayed to YAHWEH to lift up the light of His face upon Israel.

Psalm 4:6

“There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!””

Bible Hub captures this beautifully when they wrote:

“The “lifting up of the countenance” signifies God’s favor and attention. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a king lifting his face toward a subject indicated approval and goodwill. Biblically, God’s countenance represents His presence and blessing. This phrase suggests a personal and relational aspect of God’s interaction with His people, emphasizing His willingness to engage with them intimately. It echoes the idea of God being attentive and responsive, as seen in Psalm 4:6, where the psalmist asks for the light of God’s face to shine upon them. This is a precursor to the New Testament revelation of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s ultimate favor and presence with humanity.”

There are several ways in which the LORD shines His face upon us, none is more important than the vicarious death of the Lord Jesus Christ. God demonstrates His love and affection to us by sending His only begotten Son to redeem us from our sins.

John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Because of the love that the Father has for us, while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, Christ, the Creator of the Universe, laid aside His divine prerogatives, took on flesh, lived amongst us, died a shameful death on the Cross so that we may be reconciled to God.

Romans 5:6-11

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

The LORD lifts up His countenance upon man every time a sinner comes to the knowledge of Christ and accepts Him as Lord and Savior. Whenever we walk in the righteousness of God despite the burning desire of our sinful flesh to do otherwise, this is a demonstration of the LORD’s face shining upon us.

Through the Cross, we are reconciled with God. A living reality of our reconciliation with God is the peace of God that fills our heart. This peace is not dependent on our earthly circumstances. The peace that God bestows upon us is not determined by material possessions or physical condition. God’s peace in us is not based on our health, wealth, or success. It is not peace devoid of pain or suffering.

The peace of God is an inner contentment. It is the grace given to us through faith to believe in the sovereign providence of God. The peace we have in God is in spite of our earthly troubles. This peace is not merely external but internal. It is a state of wholesomeness and wholeness. God’s peace brings soundness and ensures our well-being. 

Romans 5:1-2

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.”

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”

2 Corinthians 13:14

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Philippians 4:4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When the face of God shines on us, we are dressed up in the name of God i.e., robed in His character, attributes, and person. As we gaze on His face, we become more and more like Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”