“A drop of water is not as simple as it seems. In fact, it’s more complex than we can imagine. What’s true of water is true of you, and it’s true of God’s blessings too. . . . Now you know why a single drop of water graces the cover of this book! It represents God’s blessings, the atoms of which add up to even more than the Avogadro constant. And the ripple effect it creates is the double blessing.”- Mark Batterson
In Chapter 4 (“The Avogadro Constant”) of Double Blessing, Mark Batterson states that an Italian scientist, Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856), once calculated the number of molecules in one mole of substance. Called the Avogadro constant, it adds up to 6.022 times 10 to the 23rd power.
Next, Pastor Batterson reminds us of the centerpiece of the Aaronic, or priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) — the word barak. And if you put that word under a linguistic microscope, Mark adds, you discover six basic meanings of barak. Thus, Mark likens each of these subblessings as an Avogadro constant in itself. Consequently, today Pastor Batterson covers the first two basic meanings.
1. To salute. In medieval times, a knight raised his visor to reveal his face. As a result, this action signaled his friendly intentions. Furthermore, in the priestly blessing, God turns His face toward us. In a sense, Mark notes, God raises His visor. Therefore, God reveals Himself as the I AM of the burning bush. Pastor Batterson adds:
“To receive that blessing, you must raise your visor too. God won’t bless what you pretend to be. Your disguises may fool everyone else, but they deflect the blessing of God. You know whom God is able to bless? Those who have the humility and courage to be themselves, without pretense. . . . God sees right through our masks anyway, but He wants us to lift our visors.”
2. To kneel down. To bless little children, you kneel down to get on their level. And in Bethlehem, Mark observes, God most high became God most nigh. Hence, the author states, God’s blessings touch lepers, celebrate Samaritans, and consecrate meals with sinners.
Today’s question: How do you find God’s blessings as numerous as the atoms in a drop of water? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Adulterated affection and exploited power”
