Touch is one of the five senses
that have been given to men, and is the most intimate of all
of the senses, since it involves an action. A man can see, hear,
taste, or smell something without direct involvement. Yet touch
supposes that an activity takes place. Some may say that taste
would fall into that category, but only that taste which actually
touches the object can be said to be so. The scriptures tell
us of many times when the Lord touched men. The first instance
that is recorded for us is when Jacob wrestled a man. As they
wrestled, the Lord put his hand and touched the hollow of his
thigh. The Lord could have easily destroyed Jacob, yet we learn
the mercy of God in his dealings with his children. He made Jacob
aware of his superior power, and yet treated Jacob in the
tender fashion described for us by the prophet Isaiah, a bruised
reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not
quench. He blessed Jacob there as he
revealed himself, causing Jacob to rejoice and worship. Then
we read of the prophet Elijah who had grown so weary of life
and full of despair as he fled from the face of Jezebel. And
as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched
him and said unto him, Arise and eat. Though the instrumentality
of his touch was through an angel, the effect was nonetheless ordained
by him and carried with it the same power and effect. He ministered
to the weary prophet and met his every need, even touching
him a second time as he prepared Elijah for his journey to Mount
Oreb, the Mount of God. There he revealed to him that
he was not alone, but that the Lord had reserved 7,000 men who
had not bowed unto Baal and were faithful followers of the Most
High God. Job said, Have pity upon me,
have pity upon me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched
me. Though Satan was the instrument which the Lord used to bring
trouble upon Job, Job gave all the glory to the Lord and never
once mentioned Satan. He had an understanding in some
measure of the Lord's declaration in Isaiah, I form the light and
create darkness, I make peace and create evil, I the Lord do
all these things. Jeremiah said the Lord allayed
his fears of going forth with the Lord's message when the Lord
touched him. Then the Lord put forth his hand
and touched my mouth, and the Lord said unto me, Behold, I
have put my words in thy mouth." Everyone who thinks himself a
preacher would do well to remember this. Daniel mentions being touched
five times as the Lord revealed unto him secrets that none other
received. As he tells us, there came again
and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened
me. Indeed, the Lord alone reveals
the secrets hid from the foundation of the world. This is the gospel
of the glory of the blessed God, which exalts the grace and purpose
of God as Jesus Christ and Him crucified is preached. The gospels
of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give us examples and instances
when the Lord touched the needy during His sojourn upon the earth.
The Lord touched the leper and he was made whole. Who but the
gracious Savior would dare to touch the infected man without
regard to his own well-being? But God commendeth His love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He did the same with Peter's
mother who lay sick of a fever. Two blind men sought His mercy,
then touched He their eyes, and they were made to see. Peter,
James, and John were terrified upon the Mount of Transfiguration,
and Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. He comforted the widow of Nain
as she was in the process of bearing her son, and He came
and touched the bear. He that was dead was brought
back to life by Him who is the life. Yet one of the grandest
displays of his touch was when the woman with the issue of blood
touched the hem of his garment, and he immediately knew it. Do
we not see him touched with the feelings of our infirmities as
he immediately stopped and inquired, Who touched me? The Lord knoweth
what things ye have need of before ye ask. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream.net.