The Light of His Face

Jun 10 2025 - Eric Buresh

The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
—Numbers 6:25 

While meditating on the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), I have been amazed at what comfort is packed into a single line! “The Lord make His face shine upon you”—it is not the poetry of man, but the proclamation of heaven. This was no mere farewell wish or religious formality. It was the voice of the Lord, spoken through His appointed priests, declaring what every soul most deeply needs: the favor, the presence, the gracious gaze of God. 

What does it mean for the Lord's face to shine upon a man? It is the look of a Father upon His beloved child. It is the warm light of approval, the beaming of covenant love. When God’s face shines, it means His favor rests, His presence draws near, His blessing is not withheld. What a mercy this is—that the God who sees all does not turn His face away in wrath, but turns it toward His people in grace. 

We must not forget that this blessing is first and foremost a prayer for grace. “And be gracious to you.” This is not a demand for what is owed. It is a cry for what is freely given. Grace is not the reward of the good, but the gift of the Giver. It is not earned by the hand, but poured out from the heart of God. And when His face shines, it is not because we deserve His gaze, but because He has chosen to give it to us. 

Do you live beneath the warmth of His face? Do you remember that even in the valley, the light of His countenance has not dimmed? That even in your sin, your weakness, your wandering, His grace remains greater still? The blessing is not fickle. It is not fragile. It rests not on your merit, but on the mercy of the High Priest who speaks it over you forever—Christ Jesus, who always lives to make intercession. 

For those who bask in the light of God’s face, we must also shine it into a darkened world. Christians are not just receivers of grace; they are reflectors of grace. We walk in the light of Christ that we may radiate the light of Christ. We are mirrors of mercy, set in the world not to show ourselves, but to show Him. 

So, let your face shine too—not with your glory, but with His. Let your life be a benediction, your words a blessing, your prayers a beam of light into someone else's shadow. And when the clouds roll in, and the night grows long, and you wonder if the face of God still shines—lift your eyes to Calvary. The Son was forsaken so that the Father’s face might shine on you forever.