Peace is Here

Connect The Dots

The bible is full of connect the dot stories and events that flow together painting a clear picture of God and His plans. Sometimes you have to take a closer look to see the picture that God is painting and this week Pastor John discovered a new one, something that he never connected before.

Way back in the Old Testament there is a couple of verses that are packed with meaning that still applies to us today. What we are going to look at ties into Christmas in a profound way. God foretold the incarnation, the Christmas event thousands of years before it actually happened.

Incarnation means “the act of being made flesh.”

It comes from the Latin version of John 1:14
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

The Aaronic Blessing

Moses wrote the book of Numbers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and God inspired him to write down these words that would become a blessing spoken over His people ever since. It’s called the “Aaronic blessing” or “priestly blessing” to be precise.

When this blessing was given, it was given when the Israelites were wandering in the dessert waiting to be delivered into the Promised Land we now know as Israel.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

Each Hebrew word behind the English word in this passag is filled with images that are lost when translated.

The word “bless” means to kneel or in this case to show respect.
Respect is an abstract word that can be used in a variety of different ways. You respect your spouse or respect your body, we use it all the time in different ways. In this context, respect means bowing the knee or giving a gift or present.

If your young son came to you with a request, would you tower over him, looking down angrily at him? Or would you get down on his level by kneeling down and getting eye to eye with him asking “what can I do for you?” “I love you.”

The word “keep” means to guard and protect the flock.
It would not be uncommon for a shepherd to be out with his flock, away from the camp, over the night. In order to protect the flock, the shepherd would construct a corral of thorn bushes if it was a new area. The shepherd would then guard over the flock and the corral would be a hedge of protection around them.

Jesus is our protector as our savior. Jesus was crowned with a crown of thorns later in his life before he laid it down for us.

The word “face” in this passage is reflecting this idea of “presence” or the “wholeness of being” of an individual.

God foretold the incarnation, the Christmas event thousands of years before it actually happened. Incarnation means “the act of being made flesh.” It comes from the Latin version of John 1:14, which in English reads, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Jesus reflects the very face of God because He is God in the flesh.

The incarnation is foretold by Moses in the blessing God inspired him to record in Numbers 6:24-26.

The word “shine” here means to give light and is equated with bringing about order as light illuminates or reveals what has been dark.

Jesus is the light of the world. The bible records this several times.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

Jesus is the light of the world. He alone pushes back the darkness, the problems, the evil, the pain and suffering, the worry and fears we have. Christmas reminds us of this in a profound way.

The word “gracious” in this blessing means “to provide protection.”
Back when Moses shared the blessing it referred to people finding protection in the Israelite camp. If you were in trouble, you ran back to camp. Today we run into the arms of Jesus when we are struggling or having trouble.

The word “grant” means to “set down in a fixed and arranged place.” That fixed place was Bethlehem. That was the location prophesied a thousand years before Jesus was born.

The word “peace” usually means an absence of war or strife. However, the Hebrew word used here has a very different meaning.

The root of this word “peace” in this sentence is related to making restitution.
The blessing ends with an emphasis on “peace.” The divine name is repeated three times and it all culminates with this Hebrew word “shalom” which means peace.

This peace is not simply the ceasing of war, but total well-being, full flourishing.
This is why you can find and keep peace in your life when Jesus is at the center of it.

The True Meaning of the Aaronic Blessing

God will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection.
God will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will give you comfort and sustenance.
God will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

This understanding parallels the Christmas story, the Christmas events. That God came in the flesh for you, to give you comfort, to provide for your daily needs, to forgive your sins, and to set everything you need in place to be made whole.