How to receive God’s blessing (Numbers 6-7, Hebrews 13)

Isn’t it amazing that the LORD would want to bless people like us! People who so often ignore, grumble and disobey Him! How gracious of Him. At the end of Numbers 6 we see the LORD’s determination to bless His people. It is corporate and personal. He blesses all the people of Israel at the beginning and end, but the actual prayer is personal, it’s the singular ‘you’ – may the LORD bless you John, Mary…

The LORD wants to set His name on his set apart people. he is determined to bless, and that we might know His pleasure and peace. The LORD’s holy name is used three times in the blessing, perhaps it’s a little nudge towards a revelation of His triune character?

How should we respond to such a blessing. Well in the very long chapter 7 we see how the people respond. All 12 tribes bring exactly the same offering for sin and thankfulness. It’s a bit like a graduation ceremony, with each tribe going forward. Each tribe is accepted on the same basis, all the people of God represented. At the end of the ceremony, God speaks! Almighty God accepts their sacrifice, desires to bless them and speaks to Moses.

As with all Scripture, it’s helpful to ask what does this teach us about our Saviour Jesus Christ. I wonder if we see a shadow of Christ as each tribe brings their sacrifice to represent all the people of God? Jesus offered himself on our behalf, but as He did so, there was no voice from heaven, no speaking to His people. Instead the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice the way to God is now open, we can meet with God! There is no longer an altar to be cleansed, or a temple to be built, no longer any sacrifice to be offered but instead we are to be living stones and living sacrifices.

Our reading from Hebrews 13 gives us a number of ways we may offer a sacrifice of praise (v15) in response to God’s blessing. We may let brotherly love continue (v1), show hospitality to others (v2), remember our persecuted brothers and sisters (v3), honour marriage by holding to the sanctity of marriage (v4), being content and generous (v5) obeying godly leaders (v7, 17), not being led astray by false teaching (v9), and being willing to go to reach others with the good news (v13).

Are you living under God’s blessing? How can you show that today by responding with a sacrifice of praise?