If My People Part 6 - The Bounty

by Keith Gardner

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is a favor of God. It has often been misunderstood and mistaught, and by some it has been dismissed, but it has never left the Father’s intentions. There is a general goodness and blessedness that is bestowed on the chosen of God. It is seen in the promises that were first given to Abraham and passed down to his descendants. It was repeated to Jacob, and restated to Moses and later to Joshua. The blessings have been handed down throughout time through the seed of Abraham – Jesus Christ. As grafted heirs of the promise the same favor is ours to behold.

The blessings consist of a relationship with God – our salvation; the continual leading and training of the Holy Spirit, and a fruitfulness to the efforts of our purpose. The work of our calling may be difficult, but it is also rewarding. As hard as it may be to see, there is also a blessing of prosperity; ideas and labor that reap a harvest in multiples of the initial efforts. And then there is the blessing of protection; a hedge of protection that keeps us safe from both a seen and an unseen enemy.

These same values are reflected in a prayer that God taught to Moses, and was to be prayed over the Israelites. Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord keep you and bless you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. As we ponder these words and learn their meaning from the original language, we recognize that there is a depth to God’s goodness that is lost in the translation. If you will permit me I wish to restate and expound on what I see as the ideas and intent of the prayer.

“May the God of All fill you with His blessings and provide you with His protection. May He look on you face to face, and illuminate you both inside and out with all His grace, mercy and favor. May our Eternal Lord lift His face towards you and establish you in peace, health and prosperity.”

God’s intentions toward us are nothing but good. Whenever we step outside of His purpose we face the due results. But God, in His infinite love and mercy does not wish to leave us to our poor decisions. He has provided a remedy; our responsibility is to notice our condition and to apply His prescription by humbling ourselves, seeking His face and turning from our sins.