2022 Hanukah Day 6
A BLESSING by Raphael ben Levi
“The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];
The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favour],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],
And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].” (Num. 6:24)
The Hebrew word for bless is ‘barach’ which literally means ‘to kneel.’ A bracha is a blessing but more literally, the bringing of a gift to another on bended knee. It demonstrates the measure of God’s power and love towards us and His breathtaking humility that is beyond comprehension.
So too, when we bless God or others, we are in essence modelling His character and bringing a gift on bended knee. In God’s sight, he who is greatest is the one who serves – humility in action, on ‘bended knee.’
The Hebrew word for ‘keep’ is ‘shamar’ which literally means ‘to guard.’ A related word is ‘shamiyr’ which means ‘thorn.’ When the shepherd was out in the wilderness with his flock, he would construct a corral of thorn bushes to protect the sheep from predators. When unpacked, the Aaronic blessing could be translated like this:
“Adonai will kneel before you presenting gifts, and He will guard you with a hedge of protection, Adonai will illuminate the wholeness of His being toward you, bringing order, and He will provide you with love, sustenance, and friendship. Adonai will lift up the wholeness of His Being and look upon you, and set in place all you need to be whole and complete.”
At Hanukah, we acknowledge the sacrifice of a Jewish remnant who stood against the tyranny of an overpowering enemy yet prevailed according to God’s promise for His covenant people. This has been demonstrated throughout history as an inviolable reality: “Adonai will guard you with a hedge of protection.”
His greatest gift is one we dare not ignore, but rather embrace in fullness. It is the gift of salvation through Yeshua and it comes gift-wrapped but unless we unpack it, it will always remain like a beautiful hunukiah that is only admired from a distance.
