Luke 6:10 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisee and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse JESUS, so they watched HIM closely to see if HE would heal on the Sabbath. But JESUS knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. Then JESUS said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or destroy it?” HE looked around at them all, then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.
[New International Bible Translation]
Summary
In the Old Testament, there are a number of verses where GOD has commanded someone to stretch. In Exodus 7:19 GOD instructed Moses to tell Aaron: “Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…and they will turn to blood.” In Exodus 8:5, the LORD told Moses to tell Aaron to “Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and channels and ponds, and make frogs come upon the land of Egypt.” In Exodus 14:15, the LORD tells Moses to “Quit praying” and “get the people moving”---“Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.”
In each of these situations, something miraculous occurred when Moses and Aaron obeyed GOD’s command to stretch.
In Luke 6:10 we have another situation where GOD wanted someone to stretch. The Pharisee and the teachers of the law were known for their rigidness and “set in their ways” attitudes and ways. GOD often referred to such people as “stiff-necked” “heart hardened” people. See, Exodus 32:9; Acts 7:51. They were so fixated on “what they wanted to do,” “themselves” or “their own ideas” that it often caused them to simply ignore, fail to even notice or see, or be concerned about the suffering of others. Even, when JESUS asked the one “who needed a hand” to stand up in front of everyone---so that no one could fail to miss seeing the man or fail to see the man’s situation or his humanity, no one made a move to help the man. Not a single person extended himself to think about the man’s situation. Even when the MASTER PREACHER/TEACHER reminded those around HIM of the WORD of GOD the need to do good, to save life, to not participate in the destruction of life, no one helped or had any compassion for the man. Their focus was on something entirely different.
They were too narrow-minded. They were too short-sighted. Their hearts were too hardened to care about the man or JESUS. Instead of extending themselves to JESUS and the man, they missed out. Only the man, who the religious leaders ignored, stretched out and was healed.
Stretching Out
Stretching helps to improve flexibility and your range of motion. As a result, stretching tends to improve a person’s physical performance and decreases a person’s risk of injury. There are stretches and exercises that kids and adults can perform. For example, the following upper body stretches can be performed by both:
If you are a wheelchair user, consider some of the stretches and suggestions at the following website: https://www.infographicsarchive.com/13-best-stretch-exercises-for-wheelchair-users/
As always, if you have a medical condition or you have concerns about your own safety performing any stretch or exercise, consult your personal physician first before beginning any new exercise program or activity.
Watch or Stretch and Extend
There are people in need all around us. We don’t even have the “luxury” of feigning ignorance.” People in need are often visible on the street. We read about the plight of those incarcerated. We read about children needing educational resources in order to learn at home. We hear about families losing their homes or not having sufficient food.
Sometimes the needs are financial. Sometimes the needs are psychological. Sometimes a simple “Thank You,” “Be Safe,” “I’m grateful you’re doing this” or some other kind expression of the humanity to those doing essential services or providing medical care may be a simple, small way to show another person “someone cares” and “we appreciates your life too.” Given the stress of performing any public service, one should never underestimate how much a simple acknowledgment may mean to “a shriveled spirit” on any given day.
To say we are in a “pandemic” means that we are in an epidemic that is worldwide. We are all in this together. We must not only be concerned about our own “humanity” but the humanity of everyone else.
We can just watch, criticize, become tight-fisted, or tight mouthed, or we can stretch and extend.
If we become stiff, accusatory, short-sighted, or forget the teaching and preaching of JESUS to love and care about the humanity of others, we too risk missing the miracle and healing. Let GOD lead you. Ask and pray to GOD about what you should do.
Stretch, extend yourself, get moving, and ---and BE BLESSED!
