God Bless You

“May the Lord bless you and protect you.” Numbers 6:24

Often people say, “The Lord bless you.” Or “God bless you.” Or have a blessed day.” We use these words in casual conversation, but what does the blessing really mean? What is the significance of speaking a blessing on someone? In the Bible, a blessing was a public declaration of a favored status with God. The blessing also endowed power for prosperity and success. 

A father’s blessing was so desirable that Jacob, with the help of his mother, connived to steal it from his brother Esau. The blessing, once delivered, could not be revoked or transferred. Isaac’s blessing on Jacob gave him the rights of the firstborn son that legally belonged to Esau. Jacob was empowered for success and prosperity. And so it was. Throughout history, Jacob’s name is listed among the patriarch’s. God later changed his name to Israel, the name by which we know God’s chosen nation. 

There is something mysterious and powerful about blessing. The blessing in Numbers 6 is known as the priestly or Aaronic blessing. These were the words God told Aaron and his sons to bless God’s people with: “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.”

God said to Moses, “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” In other words, God was saying. “I will declare my favor on you and will empower you to succeed.” Think about that the next time someone casually says, “God bless you.”