Imparting Blessings with the laying on of hands

When possible, I like to lay one, or both, hands on the head, shoulder, or back of a person as I bless them. This “laying on of hands” follows an example we find throughout Scripture. In Genesis chapter 27, Jacob disguised himself to “feel” like his brother when Isaac touched him and thereby received Esau’s blessing. When Israel (Jacob) blessed Joseph’s sons (Genesis 48), he crossed his hands so that he could bless Ephraim, the younger one, with his right hand, and he placed his left hand on Manasseh, even though he was the firstborn. Moses laid his hands on Joshua when he commissioned him before Eleazar the high priest and before the entire congregation, just as the Lord had instructed him (Num. 27:23). In Matthew 19:13 (and Mark 10:16), we see that Yeshua (Jesus) laid His hands upon the children as He blessed them. Yeshua (Jesus) also laid His hands on the sick and healed them (Mark 6:5 & 8:23-25, Luke 4:40 & 13:13). The “chosen seven” who were selected to assist the apostles were ordained with the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6). In Acts 8:17, Peter and John laid their hands on the new Samaritan believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. The Lord directed Ananias to lay hands on Saul, blinded from his encounter with Yeshua(Jesus) on the road to Damascus, so that he might regain his sight (Acts 9:12). Paul and Barnabas were dedicated for their first missionary journey with the laying on of hands (Acts 13:3). And in 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul reminded Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (NASB). Whenever possible, the impartation of blessing accompanied by the laying on of hands permits us to follow a Biblical pattern established by the Patriarchs, the Apostles, and the Master Himself.