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Exodus 39:42-43,  The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

The work on the tabernacle was demanding and required carrying out very specific, detailed instructions from the Lord.  None of us would have blamed the Israelites if they hadn’t been able to complete a portion of the construction.  Afterall, they were working with donated materials and labor in the middle of a desert wilderness!  Yet, they got it all done.  They were now ready to worship God properly and live out their part of the covenant relationship with God.  The groundwork had been completed.  So Moses blessed the people.

What does it mean to offer a blessing?  God actually gave Moses instructions on how to bless the covenant community in Numbers 6:22-27,

The Lord said to Moses,  “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

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

 So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

As a pastor, I’ve been asked to bless new homes, new marriages, and new babies.  In our context, these blessings are typically to ask God to bless these people and new experiences.  We aren’t asking that no negative things occur, but that God does send his grace, goodness, and peace into their lives. 

Let’s pray…Holy God, bless each person who is reading this text.  May they experience your grace, goodness, and peace today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.