Daily Devotions
The Laying on of Hands
Title: The Laying on of Hands
Reading for February 11: Numbers 11-13
"When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD."
Numbers 8:10-11
Years ago a couple asked me if I would dedicate their newborn baby for them. If I remember correctly, the mother was a new convert who had come out of a denomination where this practice was commonly done (perhaps at a baptismal ceremony). I remember we talked about the biblical pattern and purpose of baptism and that it would be more scriptural to simply have a prayer service for the baby. And we did so at someone's home.
This is similar to what Hannah did after Samuel was born. She had prayed for a son and promised God that she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life (1 Sam 1:11).
This practice of the congregation laying their hands on the Levites to dedicate them to God can be found in the New Testament as well. The men selected to serve the Hellenistic widows were set before the apostles, and after prayer they laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6). The church at Antioch laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul (along with fasting and prayer) before sending them off on their missionary journey (Acts 13:3). And it appears that "the council of elders" laid their hands on Timothy when he began preaching (1 Timothy 4:14).
I believe this is a good practice to follow. I don't believe there is anything wrong with simply announcing publicly that new deacons or elders have been selected or that a man is going out to preach the gospel and to request prayers. There is nothing wrong with a mother and father simply asking for prayers from their family and friends for a newborn baby. However, the "laying on of hands" (a symbolic handshake? holding the baby?) communicates much more and is more meaningful to the individual and to the congregation.
Father, we commit our leaders and our children as sacrifices to you and for your service.
