Read My Face

The Blessing

By William M. Self, Sr.

 

A face can speak many things without a word

When we get close enough to see God’s face

His face shines and we receive His blessing

 

Read My Face

According to God’s command to bless the people…

The first blessing is for God to keep them to give security.

The second blessing is…

“The Lord make his face shine upon

you and be gracious to you.”

Faces speak without words.

Whatever the emotion of the

hearts is, the face reveals it.

Facial expressions can say a lot.

A nod indicates understanding,

a frown may say “please explain that again”.

A study shows we need to see at least 100 milliseconds

of a moving expression for the brain to interpret it.

When you and I approach someone, their

face reveals the mood that person is in.

The ability to read a face gives us the

advantage of how to approach that person.

Over the years, I have learned to read my wife’s face.

Many times when I tell Sandy something I

want to do that she is not happy about, she will… 

Draw a circle around her face with her hand and say…

 “Read my face, does this look like a happy face?”

(She is so cute when she does that.)

God does not have a poker face,

 His face always reveals His heart.

The Hebrew word for “gracious” is very interesting…

 Chanan (khaw-nan') to bend or stoop in kindness

to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively

to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)

“Move to favor by petition”... This is why

interrupting this word “Beseech” is used…

Beseech to ask (someone) urgently and fervently

to do something; implore; entreat. To implore, beg,

plead with, appeal to, pray, ask, request, petition

In the NIV Bible, the 8 times the words “face shine”

are used they all are in the context of a petition to God.

God’s face shines when we come to Him

wanting His love, forgiveness, and help.

We may have done something that

caused His face to show anger.

But when we turn to Him with a whole

heart, His facial gestures turns to a smile.

If we want the blessing, we must stay

close enough to God to see His face.

 

  

 Scripture Reading

Number 6:22-27 NIV

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons,

 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 "'"The Lord bless you

and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace." ' 

27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites,

and I will bless them."