The Lord Make His Face to Shine Upon You

 

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’” (Numbers 6:22–27 ESV).

 

The second Sunday of Advent candle is the Peace Candle, also called the Bethlehem Candle or Candle of Peace. It symbolizes the peace Christ brings to the world and represents hope, preparation, and the peace that comes from God. This candle is typically purple, a color that can signify royalty or preparation. On this day, both the first (Hope) and second (Peace) candles are lit on the Advent wreath.

 

I always marvel at our reading today. The Israelites were not a shining example of faithfulness while they wandered in the desert. They grumbled and complained, threatened to go back to Egypt, and even made idols to worship in place of God (cf. Exodus 16-17; 32-33). Yet God instructed Aaron—whose hands had made those idols—to bless the Israelites. Even more, God said that this would “put [his] name on the Israelites”—in other words, God wanted to be so closely identified with the Israelites that they would be part of his family!

 

Notice too that the middle of this blessing asks God to “make his face shine” on his people. It’s fitting to compare this image to a parent beaming with pride over their child or to a spouse absolutely glowing with joy at the sight of their partner. This blessing is beyond what Israel could have hoped for: having God turn toward them with overflowing delight at being associated with them!

 

Many centuries later, God became even more associated with us in his Son, Jesus Christ. Even more than we could have hoped, God became one with us in life and in death. Through Jesus, we experience God’s face shining on us with delight. And as Paul later wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

 

Hope in the Darkness

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.” (Exodus 10:21–29 ESV).

 

Have you ever encountered a darkness that can be felt? I recall walking back to my truck from my tree stand after deer hunting one evening. It really wasn’t a very pleasant day, weather-wise. There were dark storm clouds that had been gathering all afternoon and as the sun set, the wind whipped around in all directions, and the temperature dropped quickly. Fortunately I knew my way back to the truck very well and managed to get loaded and in the shelter of the truck just before the blasts of thunder and lightning began with the accompanying downpour of rain. I sat there a while hoping the rain would ease up a bit and realized how I had absolutely no control over the darkness that seemed to engulf everything as far as I could see. You could almost feel the darkness.

 

Our Bible reading today tells part of the story of God’s confrontation with Pharaoh through Moses. Pharaoh had repeatedly resisted letting God’s people go free from slavery, and God had responded with increasingly intense plagues, all of which challenged Pharaoh’s authority and control. This time, God brought a “darkness that [could] be felt” over the whole land of Egypt. Unlike the darkness of a passing storm, this darkness stayed for three days! It’s as if God was saying to Pharoah: “Stop resisting me. You are not in charge. I can even remove the creational boundaries between light and dark, night and day!” But Pharaoh would not listen.

 

While confronting Pharaoh, God reassured Israel by giving them light and hope during the unnatural darkness, and in this God was saying, “You are mine, and Pharaoh cannot separate you from me.” In Advent, we lean into this same hope-filled assurance: in Christ, God will move heaven and earth, night and day, to set us free from all that enslaves us! That is our great Hope!

  

A Strange Light in the Distance

 

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1–6 ESV).

 

We almost always travel east on vacation. In large part that’s because our favorite spot is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park located in Tennessee. I always dread the last leg of our trip home. Typically, we stay in Memphis and drive home from there. It’s about a ten-hour trip for us. When we cross the Texas state line from Arkansas going west, I feel a bit closer to home, though I know it’s still a long way. However, when I see the skyline of Dallas with the lights of Reunion Tower, I know I’m almost home. It almost pops up when you round the curve just east of Dallas. Moses may have felt something of that wonder when he saw the bush burning in the distance while tending the sheep.

 

After fleeing Egypt in fear for his life (cf. Exodus 2:11-15), Moses settled in Midian. He got married and had children. He became a shepherd and learned the wilderness terrain over a period of 40 years. But then God interrupted Moses’ ordinary life with the flickering light of a bush on fire that did not burn up. This strange sight caught Moses’ attention and awoke his curiosity. He went closer.

 

What catches my attention is that God called Moses from a bush. God could have spoken with a thundering voice or sent an angel to talk with Moses. Instead, God used a small impossibility—a bush burning without being consumed—to bring Moses into an even more impossible situation—leading God’s people out of slavery in Egypt.

 

I am in awe at how God uses this unusual fire to rekindle hope in Moses and eventually among the people of God. God had seen their misery, heard their cries, and was moving to rescue them from their suffering and oppression in Egypt after more than 400 years. But the hope sparked by this strange sight is even bigger than Moses and Israel imagined. For, one day, God would do something even more impossible by sending his own Son to free us and all of creation from our bondage to sin, death, and decay. That was the greatest Light the world would ever see! While it seemed strange to the shepherds of that night, the angels proclaimed:

 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

 

Jesus is a Light for all of us! Like Moses and the shepherds… go to that Light!

 

Can You Count the Stars of the Night Sky?

 

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1–6 ESV).

 

Our reading today has been an encouragement to me at many times in my life. I wonder how many times Abram had looked into that sky, asking God to fulfill his promise from years earlier to give him children of his own. I also wonder if Abram had stopped praying that prayer, and when. God had promised him that the nations would be blessed through his offspring (cf. Genesis 12:1-3). But nothing had changed. Abram and Sarai still didn’t have a child.

 

There is weariness and sorrow in Abram’s response to God: “What can you give me since I remain childless?” Here Abram is basically asking, “Can I truly believe you?” For many of us, this is our story too. We’ve prayed repeatedly, trusting that God hears us and cares for us. Sometimes God shows up with a miraculous answer. But other times we cry out with the psalmist, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). Remember it was 25 years before God fulfilled the promise to Abram in the birth of Isaac, and nearly 2,000 more years passed before God sent Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of his promises.

 

During Advent, we join Abram in waiting with our weariness and sorrows. And God invites us to remember and believe that his faithfulness, mercy, and love for us extend from one end of the heavens to the other—far beyond our ability to count. Go ahead… see if you can count the stars. It is futile since there are so many. This is just a small glimpse into the greatness of our God to provide for us. The birth of Jesus is just the beginning! Trust in Him!

 

The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14–19 ESV).

 

I am indebted to the Bryson City, NC, travel website for our photo today. Originally it was taken by one of the staff photographers with Up N’ Adam Adventures. The location of the photo is Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park along the Cove Road. While I have never seen the Milky Way in the Smokies, I have witnessed the incredible display of God’s creation in other locations. It is nothing short of spectacular!

 

Those times when I have lingered in the woods after a day of hunting, walking back to camp as the stars began to make their appearance known are memorable. Perhaps the most memorable is the occasional shooting star that streaks across the sky. It is grandeur at its apex.

 

In our reading today, the sun and moon get most of the attention. But we are told that God “also made the stars.” It’s as if God poked trillions of little holes in the backdrop of the night sky. Even on the darkest nights, when the moon is nowhere in sight, the stars remind us that God’s light is still present. The darkness will not overcome God’s light.

 

Admittedly, I long for God’s actions in my life to be as bright as the sun, as clear as a full moon, or as awe-inspiring as a shooting star. But I often overlook God’s faithful presence in the background. The stars remind us that God is always there. This can also remind us that Jesus entered the world on an otherwise ordinary night and that God even used a star to announce his birth. There is hope in the darkness because God “also made the stars.”

 

As you look at the lights of the night sky, would you be reminded that Jesus is the ultimate Light in the darkness!

 

The Greatest Light of the World

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. (John 1:1–8 ESV).

 

I’m sure that most of you have watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold. The segment of the movie that portrays him hanging all the lights and gathering the family for the great reveal is priceless. After the failure of the lights to come on when the final connection is made, he panics and searches everywhere for the one possible mistake. Ultimately there was no mistake. The plug had been disconnected at the source. It is coincidentally plugged in and as if by a miracle the house is ablaze with light. With shouts of joy and a “I knew you could do it Clark” from his Dad, everyone is happy.

 

You may remember the reading from yesterday (Genesis 1) as Moses records the creation with God creating light in the midst of the darkness. That reality invites us to wonder, “What would God do first to overcome the darkness? It starts with God’s first creative act: creating light in the midst of the darkness. The sun, moon, and stars will come later in the creation story. But at this point God simply creates light and then calls the light good! There is something incredibly beautiful about this creative act. The first act of creation sets the stage for everything that will follow in the rest of the Bible’s story: God is the one who makes something out of nothing. God is the one who creates light.

 

The Bible presents God as the one who pushed back the darkness with this first light. In a way, that’s what the first week of Advent is about. This is the declaration of the Apostle John in our reading today. So, as we anticipate celebrating Jesus’ birth, we wait in hope for God to create something new in us, to bring light into the darkest circumstances of our lives. The greatest of all Light has now come. Turn to Him today!

 

The Beginning of Advent

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1–5 ESV).

 

Advent is a Christian season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas. It typically begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th and lasting until December 24th. It draws our attention to the coming of Jesus Christ, focusing on themes like hope, peace, joy, and love, which are often symbolized by lighting candles on an Advent wreath. This month we will be using various passages of Scripture to draw us toward a deeper understanding of the significance of the birth of Jesus.

 

Today’s reading, which are the Bible’s first words about the earth, are that everything was “formless and empty” and that “darkness was over the surface of the deep”—a poetic way of saying that the world did not exist before God started creating. Perhaps you have been in a place without any light. It can be so dark that you can’t see your hands even when you touch your nose. The Bible begins with a darkness that is deeper than that. It’s the deepest darkness the Bible writers could imagine: the empty darkness of the world not existing.

 

As we begin Advent, looking forward to the light of Jesus’ coming, there is something very comforting about the Bible’s beginning. However heavy and impossible our current circumstances may feel, the Bible reminds us that our story begins with the God who creates life in the midst of the deepest darkness imaginable. In other words, with God there is always hope! That is the central message of Christmas!