Prayer and Purpose

In Numbers we find instructions that Yahweh has given Moses to give to Aaron regarding a blessing upon His people: "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, Yahweh bless you and keep you; Yahweh make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; Yahweh lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 'So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'" Numbers 6:22‭-‬27 ESV Re-read the last sentence. God wanted the priests to mark His people as His. I grew up hearing this every Sunday as our benediction, and it is fitting because, though I am not an Israelite, I am chosen by God, adopted into His family. Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians, "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither sla...