The Bible speaks about God hiding his face from his people. He does this when his people turn their backs on Him with disobedience and sin. When God hides his face from us, we are doomed.

Ezekiel 39:23

 ²³ And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. 

When God hides his face from us, we are given over to the evil that we have chosen. We are the opposite of blessed, we are doomed. The Bible speaks about God turning his back and allowing his people to do as they choose but this only leads to their descent into everything that is not good, eventually into a place of no return.

Deuteronomy 31:17-18

Then My anger will be kindled and burn against them in that day, and I will abandon (turn away from) them and hide My face from them. They will be devoured, and many evils and troubles will come on them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come on us?’ But I will certainly hide My face [from them] in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods [to worship lifeless idols, to honor handmade relics].

When he hides his face from his people, he has abandoned them. When he hides his face, his protection and favour are no longer there, and they will be devoured by evil and troubles.

Deuteronomy 32:20

“Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; For they are a perverse generation, Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.

He hides his face after much rebellion and disobedience. God offers us many chances but there is a point where it becomes too much and it is too late.

Micah 3:4

Then they will cry to the Lord, But He will not answer them; Instead, He will even hide His face from them at that time [withholding His mercy] Because they have practiced and tolerated and ignored evil acts.

But the good news is we can still take heed, be obedient, turn away from the world and desires of the flesh and do what he has called us to do. So let’s be obedient so that his face will shine upon us and we will be blessed and favoured.

May His Face Shine

When His face shines upon us, we are saved, we are blessed, He hears us, and he lightens our darkness. May we all seek him and may his face shine upon you.

Psalm 80:3

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Daniel 9:16-19

16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,[b] make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Psalm 89:15

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

Psalm 18:28

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Numbers 6:22-27

22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance[c] upon you and give you peace. 27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”