The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Leviticus 6:26
Things had changed in Haran, and Jacob was more than ready to leave. For some 14 years, he had enjoyed a good relationship with his father-in-law, who appreciated how everything that Jacob handled was blessed by God and prospered. But now Jacob has detected a different attitude and he shared his concern with his wives. He told them their father’s countenance was not toward him as it had been before, and he intended to go back to the land of his own people. That change in Laban’s countenance was a huge issue with Jacob, and it helped to convince him to obey God’s command for him to leave. There is one thing we can never accuse God of, and that is any change in His countenance toward us.
Before you and I were saved, our backs – and not our faces – were toward God in our rebellion against Him. But despite our rebellious attitude, God always has and always will have His countenance toward us. God’s great plan of salvation was designed and implemented as proof of His eternal compassion for us and His desire that we would not be banished from Him forever. We can all recall how God’s interest in us and love for us brought us to repentance and to faith in His Son. Even those poor lost souls who never get saved can never accuse God of not caring for them or of not providing a ransom for them.
Our text today speaks of peace. That is what we experience when we come to grips with the reality that the Lord has lifted up His countenance upon us. We who were at one time enemies of God have now entered into His peace, as we read in Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The enmity is gone forever, and we enjoy a relationship that God always wanted us to have.
But it is not just the peace represented by the end of hostilities that we enjoy, it is also the peace that transforms our souls from the anxieties and dreads of life into contented and happy Christians. Do you know any happy Christians? If you do, you know Christians who are enjoying the peace that our text is speaking of. One of the most peaceful moments for the Lord’s people is the hour when we gather to partake of His supper in remembrance of Himself. The reality of our peace with God is the most precious as we meditate on His greatest display of love for us at Calvary.
Appreciate the peace that is ours as our Lord lifts up His countenance upon us today. – Jim MacIntosh