I’ll be the first to admit that I will never be a hand model. My fingers are fat, my nails are weak and short and my skin is scarred and wrinkled. When I was much younger I had a friend tell me that I had earthy hands. I took that as a compliment.
Just yesterday I was planting flowers, sweeping the porch, scrubbing sinks, searching the net and scraping paint from window trim. And with every action I knew I was blessed.
I remember my father’s hands. He was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic, a master mechanic. His hands were always stained from grease and oil and his knuckles were frequently scabbed over and occasionally his fingers were broken from one thing or another that happened at work.
By contrast l saw the hands of my hair stylist yesterday. Her hands were smooth and well manicured. Her nails were polished with a most attractive shade. I commented on how pretty they were.
When I focus my attention on my hands or the hands of others I am reminded of an instruction that Moses gave to the children of Israel.
“All these good things will come upon you if you will obey the Lord your God. 3 Good will come to you in the city, and good will come to you in the country. 4 Good will come to your children, and the fruit of your ground, and the young of your animals. Your cattle and flock will have many young ones. 5 Good will come to your basket and your bread pan. 6 Good will come to you when you come in, and when you go out.
7 “The Lord will cause you to win the battles against those who fight against you. They will come against you one way, and run away from you seven ways. 8 The Lord will send good upon you in your store-houses and in all your work. He will bring good to you in the land the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 28:2-6 NLV
If we obey the Lord we will be blessed whether we live in the city or the country. Since they were an agrarian society Moses told them that their activities in the field and in raising their animals would be blessed. If he were writing this today I know he would include the same blessing for those who work behind a desk or at a computer terminal, in hospitals, at schools, restaurants, etc.
In one translation these verses say “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand”.
Take a look at your hands. Study them. Now, put them to work and thank the Lord that they are blessed.