Disabilities

Physical incapacities resulting from physical or spiritual causes.

Examples of disabilities

Barrenness

Genesis 11:30, Genesis 25:21; Matthew 19:12

Blindness

Matthew 12:22, Matthew 15:30, Matthew 20:30; Mark 8:22; John 9:1

Deafness

Psalm 38:13; Mark 7:32

Muteness

Psalm 38:13; Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14

Lameness

Leviticus 21:18; 2 Samuel 5:6; Matthew 15:31, Matthew 21:14; Acts 14:8

Causes of disabilities

God's judgment

Deuteronomy 28:28

Accident

2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 1:2

Old age

Genesis 27:1; 1 Samuel 4:15; 2 Samuel 19:35; Psalm 71:9; Ecclesiastes 12:3–4; Zechariah 8:4; Hebrews 11:21

Congenital defects

Matthew 19:12; John 9:1; Acts 14:8

Cruelty

Judges 1:6–7, Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2; 2 Kings 25:7; Ezekiel 23:25

Illness

1 Kings 15:23 parallel 2 Chronicles 16:12; Galatians 4:13–15

Acts of God

Genesis 19:11, Genesis 32:25, Genesis 32:31–32; Leviticus 26:16; 1 Kings 13:4; 2 Kings 6:18, 2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 21:18–19, 2 Chronicles 26:19–21; Luke 1:20; Acts 9:8 Saul's blindness; Acts 13:11, Acts 22:11

Acts of evil spirits

Matthew 9:32–33, Matthew 12:22; Mark 9:17, Mark 9:25–26; Luke 11:14, Luke 13:11, Luke 13:16

Unfavourable aspects of disability

Unfair advantage taken of the disabled

Leviticus 19:14; 2 Samuel 19:26; John 5:7

Disabilities restrict service for God

Leviticus 21:16–23; 2 Samuel 19:31–37

Favourable aspects of disabilities

Prayer to the Lord

Genesis 25:21; 1 Samuel 1:10; Matthew 9:27, Matthew 20:30; Mark 7:32, Mark 8:22; 2 Corinthians 12:8

Prevention of overconfidence

2 Corinthians 12:7

Proof of God's grace

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Demonstration of God's power

John 9:2–3

Disability and God's people

God's blessing may prevent or remove disability

Genesis 25:21; Exodus 23:25–26; Psalm 113:9; Isaiah 49:21, Isaiah 54:1; Luke 1:36; Hebrews 11:11

God's providence

Exodus 4:11

God protects his servants by disabling their enemies

2 Kings 6:18

Human attitudes to disabilities

Bitterness

1 Samuel 1:10

Contempt

Genesis 16:4; 1 Samuel 1:6; 2 Kings 2:23; Proverbs 17:5

Inertness

John 5:6

Rejoicing

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

God's compassion towards those with disabilities

Revealed in the precepts of the law

Leviticus 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:18

Revealed in the promises of the prophets

Isaiah 42:16; Jeremiah 31:8; Micah 4:6–7; Zephaniah 3:19

Revealed in the deeds of Jesus Christ

Matthew 9:27–33, Matthew 15:29–31 parallel Mark 7:31–37; Matthew 21:14; Luke 7:21–23

Responsibilities towards those with disabilities

To treat them with respect

Leviticus 19:14

Not to take advantage of them

Deuteronomy 27:18

To provide help for them

Job 29:15; Proverbs 31:8; Luke 14:13–14