“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and give thee peace. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
On what is called the day of Transfiguration, we find the Lord Jesus with three of his disciples, together upon “…an high mountain.” It is there that the Lord Jesus is transfigured before them, His face shining as the sun, and his clothing being white as the light. (Matt. 17:2) At the same time, there would appear Moses and Elijah, who would converse with the Lord Jesus. Peter, overwhelmed by the sight, said to Jesus that not only was it good that the be there, but that the disciples should make three tabernacles for Christ, Moses, and Elijah. As Peter spoke, the Father would work to cause a bright cloud to overshadow them, preparing them for His voice which would be heard out of the cloud. The Father said, “This is My beloved on, in whom I a well pleased; hear ye Him.” (17:5)
Now, the first question that we need to ask ourselves with regard to these circumstances is, “Why?” Why did God desire that Jesus come aside upon the mountain with these disciples? The first part of the answer is found in the face of Christ, which shined like the sun. In the Old Testament, the shining of the Father’s face, or countenance, upon the people, by request, supplication, or blessing, was for the purpose of showing His favor towards the people, that God was not only “for” them, but with them, and desirous and willing to meet their every need. This was so that the ends of the earth would know that He IS God. When Jesus’ face shone that day, both from within, but predominantly from the outward invisible presence of the Father, it was a testimony of the favor and blessing that the Father showered upon His beloved Son. Indeed, the voice that the disciples would hear soon after seeing Jesus’ face was: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (v.5) When the people of Israel in Moses’ day, heard the verbal blessing of God upon them, spoken by Aaron and his sons, they understood something of His favor and blessing towards them. It was a demonstration of His graciousness upon them, and His peace, the very confirmation of His favor. In other words, Israel was called upon by God, by the very blessing of His countenance rising and shining upon them, to live in the light of His favor.
In the New Testament, we see this matter amplified to demonstrate the greatness of the Love of the Father, and of the Son by the Spirit, upon every believer. We get a glimpse of this reality, when we read the Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, ARE CHANGED into the same image from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:8) It is as the believer worships God, in Christ, by the Spirit, that He perceives the glory, the blessed countenance of God’s favor and peace. In the act and attitude of worshiping, it is the Spirit of God who testifies of God’s love, shining upon the faces of His beloved. The believer, who walks in fellowship with Christ, and truly worships Christ in Spirit and truth, is that one who knows the reality of Christ shining on him. The testimony of that shining is the joyful, believing, and peaceful countenance of the child of God.
When Moses worshipped the Lord, after entering into the tabernacle, he would exit, his face shining. He did not recognize it, but those around him did. It was said of Stephen, just prior to him offering his last discourse before the high priest, and council, in Jerusalem: “And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15) His face reflected the favorable countenance of the Father upon his child.
Dear Father, Shine upon us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.