Editorial - "And Give You Peace"

by Joy Hunting

In the past the people of Israel have always received God's peace and blessing God's way. The moment they went their own way -- "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25) -- or ceased to heed God's warnings and were seduced into going astray, they were automatically cut off from peace and blessing.

Evil would befall them, and it could take many forms: famine, or defeat, or pestilence, or siege as we may read in I Kings 8 and II Chronicles 6. And though the problems they faced were God's answer to their falling away from Him, He was in no way to blame for them. His desire was always to bless His people with every good thing if they would obey Him in all their ways.

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying ...'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace"'" (Numbers 6:22-26).

It was God who would bless, God who would make His face shine, and be gracious, God who would lift up His countenance, and give peace.

The world in these days is saturated with big and small powers, big and small religions, big and small people, who say they want peace, but it is only on their terms. And that is not God's way. He promises peace and blessing on HIS terms, and He is always ready to hear the cry of those who turn to Him.

The Psalmist once assured the people, and still does in the timelessness of God's Word, that God has "not despised the affliction of the afflicted, nor has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him he heard" (Psalm 22:24).

This is God's message of peace and blessing when we as individuals and nations cease our own method of attaining them. It was the Messiah who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). God's way to peace is trust and faith in the Messiah, His Anointed: "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling ... Blessed are all those who put their trust in him" (Psalm 2:10-12).