Let Us Invoke His Blessing

Numbers 6:22–27 (HCSB)

“The LORD spoke to Moses: ‘Tell Aaron and his sons how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and protect you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.’ In this way they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

This has been on my heart lately. I have actually wondered about this blessing and thought about looking it up in Scripture. We are in a time when people need a blessing! Low and behold, it shows up in my devotion time this morning. Is this a coincidence? I think not. I’m committing this to memory so I can use it tomorrow.

It is a great privilege those of us in ministry have to represent the Lord and pronounce His blessing on His people. This is not just a privilege, but also a responsibility we have and seldom practice. It may sound cheesy to us, or high church and traditional, to stand up and say a blessing over our people. But if God gives us that right we should take full advantage of it. There is great power in the blessing—maybe much greater power than we imagine. I plan on finding out for myself. People need this blessing, and must give it.

But there is something else here that I noticed this morning: the last verse says, “In this way they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” What does God mean by “put My name on” them? We say there is power in the name of Jesus. The only reason there is power in His name is because He is God. The Bible is very clear in stating that there is a curse on those who abuse His name. Conversely is there an equal blessing for those who invoke His name as such? I do not think that we use God’s name for good enough. Let us put His name on His people beginning now—and then see what happens.