The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-25
Chanan is the Hebrew word here for gracious. At its root it means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.[1] This word is also sometimes rendered as compassionate. It is the unmerited giving of something to someone that could not provide it for himself.
Being gracious is the ultimate act of God as He looks upon us with compassion. He provides a path of rescue (Himself) though we were dying in our sins. He gives us love even though we were unloving. It is His bending down, coming near to be with us and to offer Himself.
May the Lord be gracious to you, my brothers and sisters, granting to you what only He can give.
