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

We have just finished the study of Ruth in our women's Bible study and it was a rich study.  One of the sweet things I learned was about blessing others...about showing kindness to others.  Ruth was a daughter-in-law of a bitter woman...but she chose to go with her and help provide for her care.  She went into the fields of a man named Boaz and was to "glean" or pick up the leftovers from the workers who were his.  It's a very exciting love story (and you will have to read for yourself), but there is a much deeper meaning to it.  In fact it is a picture of our redeemer, Jesus Christ, who cares for us and takes responsibility for His people, the church. 

Back to the love story, Boaz, on Ruth's first day in the field, greeted all the harvesters with this greeting:"The Lord be with you" and they returned the greeting with: "The Lord bless you".  When was the last time you went to work and you were greeted that way?  The Hebrew word for blessing in the second phrase (barak) is the same word as 'bless" in our pillow scripture today.  It is a blessing from those who are blessed.  Boaz blessed them and they blessed him...what a great combination!  Last night on the Olympics, Shaun White lost a very important - maybe his last - race to another athlete.  When the other athlete found out he had won, Shaun was the closest to him and he just required a huge celebration hug - from the man who had lost the most!  But Shaun just hugged him back...hard, not in a wimply way, but returning the blessing.  I want to be more like that.  I want to bless because I have been so blessed!  Boaz went on to be a very important player in the lineage of Jesus...read Matthew 1 to see why.  His obedience and response to being blessed was a big step toward our blessing today.  Is it possible He has kingdom work for us to do today?

Today, think about how you have been blessed.  This Numbers blessing was from the priest to those who were the Lord's people.  Are you His and have you received His blessings?   Think about how you can go out today and bless someone else.   We might be the ones used by the Lord to further His kingdom...wouldn't that be a blessing as well as a privilege?

For further study:  Gen. 12:3, Psalm 41:1-2, Psalm 121:7-8, Ezekiel 34:26,  Matt. 5:1-12, Luke 6:35, Romans 12:14,  Ephesians 4:32, 2 Tim. 2:24.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly