Come Near So That I Can Touch You

I think it’s fair to suggest that most of us are able to recognize a person we are close to by the sound of his or her voice.  Although a voice is undoubtedly important; a touch is able to translate in every language and every culture across the globe.  

Touch is the first sense we acquire and is our first language.

With our hands we are able to speak a thousand words with one touch.

In the book of Genesis we read about Isaac as an old man.  His eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, so he called his oldest son Esau in to give him his blessing before he died.  Isaac’s wife Rebekah favored Jacob, the second born son, and had put a plan in place to deceive Isaac.  Rebekah covered Jacob’s hands with goatskins since his older brother Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was a man with smooth skin.

As Jacob entered his father’s room to receive the blessing that was to be given to Esau, Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so that I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” So he blessed him.

Although the power of life and death are in the tongue, it is with the touch of another’s hand that blessing is bestowed.  Many times the Word of God portrays the significance of the laying on of hands in blessing, when praying for the sick to be healed, or in ordination.  And let’s not forget the touch of a hug or a warm embrace.  

Has anyone ever asked if they could give you a hug? It’s what we do when we greet a person, when we are saying goodbye, when we are happy, when we are sad, to show that we care, and sometimes for no reason at all.  We are able to see clearly another’s heart through the power of touch.  

Touch is like salve on the heart with the power to heal.

As I prayed this morning, I stared at my hands.   Hands can build or destroy, compliment or insult, heal or even hurt.   We pray to be God’s hands, we put our life in God’s hands, we are engraved on the palms of His hands, and Jesus’ final words spoken were, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Lk. 23:46)  

Jesus, our Savior, entered the world as a baby and left the world by stretching out His perfect hands to die on a cross for our sins so that we might one day be with Him in eternity.  His hands changed the lives of everyone He touched; by the power of His Spirit in us, we can do the same.

One day soon, our Savior’s perfect nail scarred hands will once again be stretched out, but this time they won’t be nailed to a cross.  Instead, as He beholds His bride, His arms will wrap around each one of us for an eternal embrace.

Stay the Course...

Sheila