Seeking the Light of His Countenance
One of the most cherished prayers in the Christian tradition is the ancient Priestly Blessing: "The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you" Numbers 6:25. It is a beautiful image, suggesting warmth, favor, and the intimate smile of a Creator directed toward His children. But as we walk the narrow way, we often find ourselves asking a difficult question: Does the Lord’s face always shine upon us? Or more poignantly, why does it sometimes feel as though He has turned away? In this short post, let us explore the biblical reality of the "shine" and the "hiding" of God’s face. By looking at the experiences of Moses, Job, and David, we can better understand how to navigate the seasons of light and the shadows of the soul. The Radiance of Favor In Numbers 6, the "shining" of God’s face is equated with His being "gracious" to us. This is the "light of His countenance." When a father looks at his child with a smil...
