The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His countenance toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6: 23 – 25

Having grown up in a Bible-centered church, every Sunday I experienced the tradition of our Pastor speaking this prayer of blessing over the congregation at the end of each service. Even as a small child it impressed me as a powerful prayer. It would be years later that I learned more about the context of the prayer and recalled my early sense of receiving an all-encompassing blessing as it was spoken. Last year when we moved to Flagstaff, I wanted to bless visitors to our home upon entering our foyer. I was moved to have this prayer superimposed on a picture I had taken over Lake Michigan when I was flying into Chicago after a family wedding. It now graces our entrance as though God Himself is imparting the blessing from heaven. Then just this year I was introduced to Warren Marcus’ book, The Priestly Prayer of the Blessing: The Ancient Secret of the Only Prayer in the Bible Written by God Himself. I was struck anew by the power of this seemingly simple prayer.

The Mountain Impartation

To understand the full impartation of the Priestly Prayer, one must know the story behind it. After the Israelites were released from bondage in Egypt by the ten plagues of God, and then escaped the pursuing Egyptians by the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, Moses led God’s people into the desert where God called Moses to the mountain top. At the summit Moses was given the 10 commandments written by the finger of God on tablets of stone. Upon carrying the stone tablets down the mountain, Moses returned to the camp site to find that the people had erected an idol of a golden calf to worship, a remnant of their Egyptian bondage. Moses was so furious he broke the tablets, had the calf melted down, and returned to the mountain to implore of God how he could possibly deal with “His” wayward people. In God’s infinite grace, He rewrote the 10 commandments and gave to Moses the Priestly Prayer, instructing Moses to have Aaron the Priest speak the prayer over the people every day.

Supernatural Provision

Moses obeyed and for 40 years in the desert Aaron spoke the words of blessing over the people; they were fed by manna from heaven and quail when they tired of the manna; their clothes and shoes never wore out, and when they thirsted water came from a rock. This supernatural provision was a result of the daily Priestly Prayer of blessing. Based on extensive research, Warren Marcus shares the amazing story of the amplified meaning of this ancient Hebrew prayer. As simple as it seems in English, the Hebrew reveals an expansive blessing.

First of all, Lord in Hebrew actually refers to God the Father, Yahuwah; amazingly this blessing is the only prayer given directly from the Father. We know the prayers of His Son Jesus and the apostles from the New Testament and are familiar with many prayers of the patriarchs, prophets and kings in the Old Testament. There must be something very special about this singular prayer to have been spoken by the Father to protect and provide for His chosen people as they wandered in the desert.

Journey to the Promised Land

God knew that His people, who had been in bondage for 400 years, were not ready to go directly into the Promised Land so through their desert experience He taught them to follow Him by fire at night and pillar of cloud by day, to trust in Him for daily provision, and to worship Him alone. The older generation, who had known only Egypt as their home, died in the desert, and it was the next generation born in the desert who would enter and conquer the Promised Land. Even Moses died prior to the Jordon crossing, imparting to Joshua the mantle of leadership. Indeed, it was the daily Priestly Blessing that sustained the Hebrew people on their long journey to their Promised Land.

The Amplified Prayer of Blessing

After reading Marcus’ book, also available in CD, I have listened to this prayer often as I start my day. Since discovering the origin and amplified meaning of the Father’s Prayer, I have shared it with friends and family to bless them. I believe as Warren Marcus does, that this divine prayer is an impartation of supernatural blessing from the Father Himself and, as of old is meant for us today.

Receive the Blessing

Do you need a blessing today? Perhaps you are going through a desert experience of financial, health, relational, career or spiritual crisis. Adapt the prayer of blessing and you will enter an oasis of the Father’s provision, protection, inspiration, and revelation. Look into His face as He intimately shines His grace on you. Allow His whole being to embrace you, transform your perspective on life’s challenges, bring order to your life and reveal your purpose. I can attest to the transformative power of the Father’s blessing as I read, hear, and recite it for myself and others. Receive the blessing now as you listen to the amplified English version of the Father’s prayer: www.warrenmarcus/prayer In addition, Paul Wilbur, a Messianic Jewish musician, chants the inspired Hebrew blessing. Your heavenly Father desires to bless His adopted children, as He has blessed His chosen people over the centuries. Receive the Father’s prayer of blessing and your life shall be renewed in love, faith, and joy.

Sheryl Dawson
May 14, 2018
Honoring the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of Israel

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