Look and be Radiant

In the blessing he pronounced over Israel, Aaron was to say “Yahweh make His face to shine upon you” (Numbers 6). Why this particular form of blessing?

God’s face shines like the sun, and so gives life and health to all it shines on. If a man is like a tree, he needs not only water but sunlight if his leaves are to stay green and if he is to bear fruit.

Psalm 34:5 gives another angle: “They looked to Him and they radiated.” The Lord’s face is glorious; when He shines on the faces of His people, their faces become similarly radiant. As we turn to the glory of God in the face, we are transformed from glory to glory. We become not merely recipients of His light but reflectors of it, “horned” with light like Moses (cf. 2 Corinthians 3-4).