God gave Moses a prayer to bless us

When asked how to pray, Jesus gave the disciples and, ultimately, all followers of Christ a perfect example of prayer in “the Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father” – a prayer that poetically reminds us of the praises, needs, and concerns we’re to bring before God.

Many centuries before that, however, God gave Moses the words of a priestly prayer to pray over the people of God – a prayer heard in Jewish synagogues and many Christian churches today.

“And the Lord instructed Moses to tell Aaron the priest and his sons how to bless the children of Israel with this prayer:

‘May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you.

May the Lord lift His countenance upon you
and give you peace.’

“And this prayer shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them,” Numbers 6:22-27.


Questions: Do you put the Name of God and prayer of God on your children every day? In what ways might this prayer be used to bless people, including those who curse us?

Prayer: Dear LORD God and Heavenly Father, we praise You for being a God Who blesses Your people. Thank You for Your graciousness and peace. Help us to pass on Your good gifts, not only to our friends and families and followers, but to our enemies.

~~

© 2012, Mary Sayler, all rights reserved. 

Calling on the Name

Background:
After Adam and Eve, after Cain and Abel, after the third generation of humankind began calling on the name of the Lord, many, many centuries passed. Heavenly beings did whatever they wanted, creating chaos and, quite possibly, mythological creatures (Genesis 6:1-4.) Human beings did whatever they wanted, and their relationships with God and one another deteriorated (Genesis 6:5.) The whole universe had gotten into an unbearable, terrible mess!

Within this scene of deterioration and depravity, Noah stood out like a bright light of righteousness. God noticed, of course, and came to Noah with a plan and a promise. As Genesis 7-8 recorded, God used a flood to wipe out everything and start over with Noah, his family, and every animal on earth.

After the floodwaters had dried, Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God (Genesis 8:20.) If he prayed to God or praised and thanked God for protecting and saving him and his family, the Bible did not say. Instead Genesis 9 goes on to tell us how Noah planted a vineyard, made wine, and got drunk!

When Noah awoke after an embarrassing evening, he realized that one of his three sons had stood around, staring at the inebriated, naked father until the other two walked backwards to cover him up! If Noah felt foolish or ashamed or sorry or got mad at himself for his own behavior, the Bible made no mention. Instead Genesis 9:25-27 recorded this prayer:

“And Noah said,
‘Cursed be Canaan!
May he be the very lowest servant –
a servant of servants to his brothers.‘

“And Noah said,
‘Blessed be the LORD God of Shem.
Canaan shall be his servant.
God shall extend the borders of Japheth,
and Japheth shall live in the tents of Shem,
and Canaan shall be his servant’.”

Questions:
In what ways did the blessings and cursings of Noah affect human history? Do they affect peoples and nations today? Do I take my own words seriously? Do I bless or curse my family, my community, myself, and the world?

Prayer:
Dear LORD God, I praise and thank You for all of my blessings! Help me to become a blessing to others and myself.

~~
© 2012, Mary Sayler, all rights reserved.
~~