5296 disabilities
Physical incapacities resulting from physical or spiritual causes.
Examples of disabilities
Barrenness Ge 11:30; Ge 25:21; Mt 19:12
Blindness Mt 12:22; Mt 15:30; Mt 20:30; Mk 8:22; Jn 9:1
Muteness Ps 38:13; Mt 12:22; Lk 11:14
Lameness Lev 21:18; 2Sa 5:6; Mt 15:31; Mt 21:14; Ac 14:8
Causes of disabilities
God’s judgment Dt 28:28
Old age Ge 27:1; 1Sa 4:15; 2Sa 19:35; Ps 71:9; Ecc 12:3-4; Zec 8:4; Heb 11:21
Congenital defects Mt 19:12; Jn 9:1; Ac 14:8
Cruelty Jdg 1:6-7; Jdg 16:21; 1Sa 11:2; 2Ki 25:7; Eze 23:25
Illness 1Ki 15:23 pp 2Ch 16:12; Gal 4:13-15
Acts of God Ge 19:11; Ge 32:25,31-32; Lev 26:16; 1Ki 13:4; 2Ki 6:18; 2Ki 15:5; 2Ch 21:18-19; 2Ch 26:19-21; Lk 1:20; Ac 9:8 Saul’s blindness; Ac 13:11; Ac 22:11
Acts of evil spirits Mt 9:32-33; Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17,25-26; Lk 11:14; Lk 13:11,16
Unfavourable aspects of disability
Unfair advantage taken of the disabled Lev 19:14; 2Sa 19:26; Jn 5:7
Disabilities restrict service for God Lev 21:16-23; 2Sa 19:31-37
Favourable aspects of disabilities
Prayer to the Lord Ge 25:21; 1Sa 1:10; Mt 9:27; Mt 20:30; Mk 7:32; Mk 8:22; 2Co 12:8
Prevention of overconfidence 2Co 12:7
Proof of God’s grace 2Co 12:9-10
Demonstration of God’s power Jn 9:2-3
Disability and God’s people
God’s blessing may prevent or remove disability Ge 25:21; Ex 23:25-26; Ps 113:9; Isa 49:21; Isa 54:1; Lk 1:36; Heb 11:11
God’s providence Ex 4:11
God protects his servants by disabling their enemies 2Ki 6:18
Human attitudes to disabilities
Bitterness 1Sa 1:10
Contempt Ge 16:4; 1Sa 1:6; 2Ki 2:23; Pr 17:5
Inertness Jn 5:6
Rejoicing 2Co 12:9-10
God’s compassion towards those with disabilities
Revealed in the precepts of the law Lev 19:14; Dt 27:18
Revealed in the promises of the prophets Isa 42:16; Jer 31:8; Mic 4:6-7; Zep 3:19
Revealed in the deeds of Jesus Christ Mt 9:27-33; Mt 15:29-31 pp Mk 7:31-37; Mt 21:14; Lk 7:21-23
Responsibilities towards those with disabilities
To treat them with respect Lev 19:14
Not to take advantage of them Dt 27:18
To provide help for them Job 29:15; Pr 31:8; Lk 14:13-14
See also
1030 | God, compassion |
1310 | God as judge |
5133 | blindness |
5147 | deafness |
5162 | lameness |
5168 | muteness |
5225 | barrenness |
5278 | cripples |
5297 | disease |
5333 | healing |
5726 | old age, attainment |
5823 | cruelty |