“The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26 NIV
“God is no mere spectator of the daily drama of your life.”
My thoughts today are about “a look of love.”
What is it about the gaze of someone that can speak volumes? As a college student long ago, I fell in love with my wife, Gayle, while seeing her eyes and smile in my rear view mirror as we shared a ride to work each day after classes. Someone has said that the “eyes are the windows to the soul.” One’s eyes can communicate interest or approval without a word spoken. A person’s face expresses their inward emotions and feelings, both pleasure and displeasure. “A merry hearts makes a cheerful countenance.” Proverbs 15:13 NKJV.
As an adult, whenever I noticed my Mom looking at me in a crowd of others, I felt her love and pride. There was never a look of disapproval – I may have used up too many of those when I was a child! In some unexplainable way, her countenance reflected her pleasure, deserved or not. I cannot properly explain the assurance and inner strength that gave me. She may never have known the confidence I drew from the times her “face was turned toward me.” That refers to something more than mere physical sight; it speaks of some connection and communication of heart to heart.
Have you ever watched a small child trying to talk with their mother? I have seen a child gently put their little hands on a mother’s face and turn the parent’s eyes toward them. Somehow, they intuitively feel that Mom or Dad will pay attention when their face turns toward them. One of the hurtful things a person does is to turn their back on someone – figuratively or literally, to deliberately look away.
The Bible speaks scores of times more than I realized about the countenance or face of God. One’s soul is left desolate when God “turns or hides” His face from man. Yet the heart gladdens when invited to “seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV. “He prays to God and finds favor with Him; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy.” Job 33:26 NIV. It is a time for our nation to cherish God’s invitation and promise, “If My people . . will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face . . I will hear from Heaven and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV.
I will never forget our youngest grandson, McKinnley’s joyful voice at the playground every time, Poppa, look at me!” God understands how much you and I need to know that He is looking after us with delight. It’s comforting to know that God is not just watching you, but watching over you with approval. God is no mere spectator of the daily drama of your life – intrigued, but aloof and uninvolved. He is an interested and careful observer, ready at any time to step into your circumstances and situations, as needed and invited.
Jesus explained the Father’s care this way; the Father notices the fall of the smallest sparrow, yet you and I are counted more valuable to God than many sparrows. See Matthew 10:29-31. The conclusion is simple. Would not such a loving God with watchful eye be vigilant toward you, because you are of such value to Him? May His face be always with a look of love. See Numbers 6:23-27.
My prayer for you is to live so that God’s countenance is always with smiles of approval.