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What a Christian Believes

people to signify spiritual blessing.

In the Old Testament is an account where Jacob blessed
two of his grandsons, the sons of Joseph. In Genesis 48
v8,9 "These are the sons that God has given me" said
Joseph to his father. Then Jacob (Israel) said "Bring
them to me so that I may bless them."

Joseph brought the two sons, Manassah, the elder and
Ephraim, the younger to his father and stood the elder on the
right hand of his father, the younger to the left hand. This
was because the right hand signified the greater blessing
which should go to the elder son. However Jacob crossed
his hands over with his right hand on the younger son.
Joseph was displeased v18 "No my father, this one is the
firstborn, put your right hand on his head." But his
father refused and said " I know my son, I know...."
There was clearly great signifcance here, as Jacob
prophesied the words of God over his grandsons, not only
with the laying on of hands but even with which hand that
was used.

Whereas this account shows how blessing was imparted,
there is a significant account of how authority was imparted,
when Joshua was appointed to succeed Moses. Numbers
27 v18 'Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom
there is the Spirit and lay your hand on him.' Later on,
when Joshua took charge of leading the nation of Israel, it
says in Deuteronomy 34 v9 'Now Joshua son of Nun was
filled with the spirit and full of wisdom because Moses
had laid his hands on him.'

So there is clearly an imparting, a giving and receiving, by the
LAYING ON OF HANDS but it is by Faith in God, not
magical powers.

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