Numbers 6:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moreover, the exaltation of God’s countenance bestows tranquility, a gift bestowed by Christ, who offers it freely to those who place their faith in Him as though it were His own treasure. As He proclaims, “My peace,” He states, “I give unto you, my peace I leave unto you” (John 14:27). When the Father exalted the Son, “giving Him a name above every name” (Phil. 2:9) and inviting Him to “sit at My right hand” (Ps. 109:1), enmity was abolished and we found unity in peace by choosing to have Him in our hearts and live according to the Spirit, through whom we are made partakers of the “divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). Christ unites us, as He prayed to the Father, “that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, even so let them also be one in us” (John 17:21).

Following this, the law instructs the priests on the way to impart blessings, illustrating how God's name conveys grace to those who approach Him. It is written, ‘Let them put My name upon the children of Israel, and I the Lord will bless them’ (Num. 6:27). The text of the blessing states: ‘The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and have mercy upon thee; The Lord lift up His face upon thee, and give thee peace.' From this, we understand that those who receive blessings must first earnestly seek divine gifts, as indicated by ‘He shall bless thee’; next, they

Wherever the Lord directs His gaze, there is tranquility and delight, but when He withdraws His gaze, wickedness emerges. God, in His goodness, cannot behold evil. Yet, when He turns away from any place, it is due to human disbelief, allowing evil to take root there.