"The Lord bless and keep you" - Numbers 6:24

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace." 

I wanted you to see the full verse.  This is a priestly benediction that the Lord gave Moses to give to the Israelites following a lengthy discourse on the holiness of their community.  They had been wandering in the desert for 40 years following the exodus from Egypt.  Moses was their leader and they were in the process of "numbering" the clan.  I have been in large family gatherings and large church gatherings and there are many times I look for the exit!  But dear Moses continued to hear the Lord and shepherd these grumbling people.  This blessing was specifically for those who had His name upon them (v. 27).

Why do we - those who have His name upon us - look for blessings from other sources?  From things?  From other people?  From status?  From escape?  True blessing comes only from God.  A.W. Tozer says in THE PURSUIT OF GOD:

                                   "Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to

                                   exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop

                                   his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience

                                   and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may

                                   have hoped in his leaner and weaker days."

That's a blessed life!  Let's stop competing with others, and start sharing the blessings God has shared with us!  Remember, peace is at the end of our blessing!

For further study:  Psalm 1:1, Psalm 2:12, Psalm 33:12,  Psalm 112:1, Proverbs 10:6, Matthew 5:1-16, Romans 12:14,  Hebrews 3:13, 1 Peter 2:9

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly