July 16, 2024

Have you ever felt “afflicted” and had concerns [even despair] for what worse thing may enjoin or follow your present dilemma? Probably most of us have. Sometimes it seems there is just no way out of our predicament. In such moments, we need to remember what the Psalmist said above: “But the LORD delivers him out of them ALL.” I am thankful that as believers we can fall at the feet of our Savior Yeshua, and hope in His sufficiency for our seemingly impossible troubles. Do you remember the scriptures that tell of the woman who had an incurable affliction [blood condition for 12 years] and decided that if she could just “touch the hem” of His garment she could get help… here are the verses that record the incident, in Luke 8:43-48 nkjv

  “But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

When all else had failed… she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” There are two things I want to consider in this incident: first, Yeshua’s words, “Who touched me;” and Yeshua said “power” had gone out from Him.

I think it is “how” she [who] touched Him; as notably the disciples pointed out many [multitudes] thronged Him and pressed Him… then how did the trembling woman’s touch make a difference in what Yeshua perceived [divine power being released without Him initiating it]… I think the woman’s genuine and fervent faith connected with Yahweh’s lovingkindness, and His “always” willingness, to respond to the faith of His People. It seems that genuine faith has “drawing power” on Divine response in the time of our seemingly impossible circumstances. Consider these words of the Psalmists:

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” ps 34:17-18 nkjv

The alternative rendering of the word “contrite” in this verse could be “are crushed in spirit.” When life breaks our hearts and crushes our spirit, we are well advised to “cry out” to Yahweh with faith, believing that He hears our desperate cries [touch the border of His garment, as such]… when all of our own strength and efforts have failed, and we are surrendered to His loving and merciful willingness to deliver us... joy comes soon afterwards.

Shalom, John