Nougat 3

What do you say when someone dear to you seems intent on annoying you, intentionally or not? When in the right mood, a typical Jamaican response would be: ‘mi n’even a kuttu pon yuh’ or ‘mi no even a see yuh’ (the wording may have changed, but the essence remains). What it intimated was that ‘I’m ignoring you.’ It was for many of us the height of pain and embarrassment to know that someone has turned their backs on us.

Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to recall that God’s response is different. As God’s chosen, how do we respond to such an assurance?

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: 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 they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬-‭27‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

God’s Face is Toward Us

A visit with a couple who managed to remain at peace despite adversity led one Dr Martin to ask the Doolittles about the Source of their joy and peace. They responded, ‘His eye is in the sparrow, and I know He watches me.’ What blessed comfort. Though that response comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, it certainly summarizes God’s assurance in our Nougat today. God’s countenance (face) is turned us-wards and it’s not because we’re in trouble. God has chosen to kuttu on us, and when we truly know this, we will be at peace.

It’s worth remembering that this blessing doesn’t assure us that trouble will avoid us. Definitely not. Rather, we have the unconditional assurance of God’s Love, manifested through The Blessing. Anointing, Blessings, Favor, Protection, … all culminating in God’s Peace. No strings, we only have to accept the blessing God sends our way. That’s grounds for celebration!

We receive Your Blessing dear God, sent from Ancient times to keep us going in good and bad times. We are grateful that at our most annoying, Your face is still turned toward us and Your Peace is with us. Thank You Abba. May our lives reflect the joy in knowing of Your unconditional Love, as we seek to live in eternal Grace.

Bless and keep us dear YHWH, anointed us anew and pour out Your favor, turn Your Face towards us please YHWH so we live in Your peace. Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ