The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you,
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Gesundheit ! God bless you !
What happens when you sneeze? First, you get that tingling in your nose. Then your eyelids begin to harden up. And the thought hits you, “Oh, oh! Here it comes!” And then comes the momentary blast of air and a ferocious noise. As you open your eyes, everyone in the room is looking right at you. Then, as if a button were pushed, someone says, “God bless you,” and all smile. This tradition goes back to biblical times when it was believed that demons could travel in the air. Because we take in so much air during a sneeze, the habit arose to offer an immediate blessing to help repel invasion by demons.
Just what is a blessing, anyway? Many different things. Wealth can be considered a blessing. When the Lord blessed Isaac in Genesis 26:12, he gave him great flocks and herds and a bountiful harvest. Fame can also be a blessing, as indicated by God’s promise to make the name of Abraham great in Genesis 12:2. Children too are blessings according to Genesis 1:28.
When Jesus speaks about blessings, he is a bit more subtle. The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5 have a paradoxical flavor. Those who are poor in spirit will receive the kingdom of heaven. The meek shall inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst after justice will be satisfied. Those who are merciful will be blessed by receiving mercy. Peacemakers will be called sons of God. In short, purity of heart now will result in a cornucopia of blessings when God’s kingdom comes into its harvest.
Perhaps we can define a blessing as anything good which we receive from God. That’s simple. Yet, life is less than fully simple. It is not we who decide what is good for us. God does. God is wiser and more patient than we. When our life seems blessing-less, we need to pause to ask if God might have something in mind for us that we have not yet envisioned. With blessings, as with every other aspect of our relationship with God, we must remember that God is in charge and that God is gracious.
Blessings in disguise
This disposition of humility before the God who blesses is well reflected in an old poem, “How God Answers,” the author of which is unknown.
He prayed for strength that he might achieve;
He was made weak that he might obey.
He prayed for wealth that he might do greater things;
He was given infirmity that he might do better things.
He prayed for riches that he might be happy;
He was given poverty that he might be wise.
He prayed for power that he might have the praise of men;
He was given infirmity that he might feel the need of God.
He prayed for all things that he might enjoy life;
He was given life that he might enjoy all things.
He had received nothing that he asked for—all that he hoped for;
His prayer was answered—he was most blessed.
PRAYER
God of blessing, answer our prayer by fulfilling our hope…as you see fit. Amen.
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Ted Peters is a Lutheran pastor and emeritus seminary professor. He is author of Short Prayers and The Cosmic Self. His one volume systematic theology is now in its 3rd edition, God—The World’s Future (Fortress 2015). He has undertaken a thorough examination of the sin-and-grace dialectic in two works, Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society (Eerdmans 1994) and Sin Boldly! (Fortress 2015). Watch for his forthcoming, The Voice of Public Christian Theology (ATF 2022). See his website: TedsTimelyTake.com.
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