Being Imprinted by Delight

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, Yahweh gives a command to the leaders that they need to bless the people in God’s name. This is how the passage goes:

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

“Yahweh bless you
    and keep you;
Yahweh make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
Yahweh turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” - Numbers 622-27

There are two small things we want to notice today. The first is this picture of Yahweh shining on the people and ‘turning towards’ them (which is another way of saying ‘smile’). These words paint a picture of pure delight. It looks like a parent beaming over a sleeping child or a lover’s warm gaze after not seeing each other for a while. How does that sound to you? Can you fathom God delighting in you like that?

The second picture comes from the last line: by pronouncing this delight over the people, God’s name will be impressed upon them. It will stick. It’s like a spiritual branding - we get tattooed with God’s name. And ‘name’ here is a stand—in for ‘complete identity.’

What matters here is that not only does God delight in us extravagantly, but God wants that delight to be deeply imprinted on us - to be what shapes our own identity.

What do you do with these thoughts? Can they get far enough down from your head to make it into your heart and your emotions? How about this: can they move from head and heart into your body and soul - from thoughts and feelings into the intrinsic way your body responds to this world and how your existence is defined? Talk with Yahweh about these things now.