Q. What does the Bible mean when it talks about God’s face shining on His people?
A. The Aaronic benediction of the Levitical priesthood in Num 6:25 contains the words May His face shine upon you.
These seemingly simple words contain two of the great secrets of the Bible. God’s “face” refers to intimacy; “shine” refers to radiant spiritual power. This contains the two greatest blessings of all Scripture:
- A personal relationship with God, and,
- His glory revealed in believers by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This double blessing is what Moses requested in Exodus 33:12-23 and was partially fulfilled in Exodus 34:29-35. It will be totally fulfilled in us at the Resurrection. We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory – 2 Cor 3:18.By faith let us enter into this great double blessing: our personal relationship with God, and the transformation into His glory.