Day 4 – Saturday -- The Book of Numbers

Day 4 -- Saturday


The Book of Numbers

Israel is still in the wilderness, between Egypt and the Promised Land. This book is concerned with numbers, names, tribes, and locations. There are laws about inheritance, offerings, vows, punishments, duties, the place of worship, the Passover, and so on. There is the strange story of the talking donkey (Balaam’s ass) in chapters 22-24.

Moses gets mad at the people. God gets mad at the people. Moses intervenes and keeps God from destroying them. In chapter 12 Aaron and Miriam get mad because Moses married a black woman (a Cushite). God gets mad at Miriam and gives her leprosy, saying in effect, “You like white skin—I’ll give you white skin.”

Probably the best known verses from Numbers are found in chapter six:

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.

                                                                                      (6.24-26)

This is called the Aaronic Blessing because God authorized Aaron and his sons to bless the people with these words. These words are used as the Benediction or Blessing at the end of worship in many churches.

Try this. Each morning for a week say the Aaronic Blessing for yourself, speaking directly to God: O Lord, bless me and keep me. Make your face to shine upon me. Be gracious to me. Lift up your countenance upon me, and give me peace.

Then during the day, choose one phrase from the blessing and silently say it over someone you see. For example, for the police officer you observe: Lord, bless her and keep her safe. Give her your peace.

Finish this sentence: Lord, I want to be a blessing today for…