A thousand-fold multiple blessing – Part 1
Austen C. Ukachi. Photo: HEISALIVEBLOG<br />
Moses continued: “At that time I told you, ‘you are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself. The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!” (Deuteronomy 1:9-11 NLT).
On the 40th year of Israel’s journey in the wilderness, Moses made a significant prayer of blessing for the children of Israel thus: “The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!”
The prayer for a thousand-fold multiplication is a very special one. Moses’ prayer is not just for an additional blessing, but also for a multiplication! He admitted that God had increased Israel previously by making them to be as numerous as the stars of heaven, but now, he was praying for them to be multiplied, “a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!”
In the New Testament, we know of a thirty-fold increase, sixty-fold increase and hundred-fold increase. But, Moses prayed for a thousand-fold multiplication. Whoa! Is that possible? Yes, it is! Were it not possible, Moses would not have prayed for it. Moses knew that God was able to multiply his people a thousand-fold that was why he prayed for them. God is a God of increase. He does not only grant his children additional increases, he grants them increases in multiples. God’s increase comes either by addition or multiplication. He increases us arithmetically and geometrically.
Moses had earlier told Aaron how the priests were to pronounce blessings on Israel. The Aaronic blessing is in Numbers 6:22-26. However, in Deuteronomy 1:10-11, he prayed for additional blessings. Though Moses was praying for Israel to be increased in population, we know God increases and multiplies his blesses on us in various ways. God can bless his works in our hands; he blesses us spiritually, materially, mentally and physically. God’s ability to bless his people in multiple dimensions is never in doubt. Paul said in Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).
In Psalms115:13-15, we read about the Psalmist’s prayer for a general increase upon his people: “He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth,” Psalms 115:13-15 NKJV.
Moses was not alone in praying for the multiplication of God’s blessing upon his people. Even King Nebuchadnezzar, of all people, prayed for a multiplication of peace in Daniel 4:1: “Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: peace be multiplied to you,” Daniel 4:1 NKJV.
Peter also prayed for the multiplication of grace and peace on the believers in the Diaspora. But he qualifies it by saying that such a blessing of multiplication would come through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.
“Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: Jesus our Lord,” 2 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” 2 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV. • Contact: pastoracukachi.gmail.com
