Lack of human strength may have a number of causes. Believers should be caring and compassionate towards the weak.
Causes of human physical weakness
Sin
Romans 8:3 See also Psalm 90:10; Romans 5:6; Hebrews 5:2
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
Divine action
Genesis 32:25 Through wrestling with God, Jacob carried a physical reminder for the rest of his life. See also Genesis 32:32; Hebrews 11:21
When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.
Disobedience
Judges 16:20 See also Judges 16:7, Judges 16:11, Judges 16:13, Judges 16:17; Job 18:7; Ezekiel 7:17, Ezekiel 21:7; 1 Corinthians 11:30
Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
Satanic action
2 Corinthians 12:7 See also Isaiah 14:12; Mark 9:17–18; Luke 13:11
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Disease or disability
Psalm 6:2, Psalm 31:9–10; John 5:7; Galatians 4:13–14
Weakness from birth
And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.
Weakness in old age
Genesis 27:1 See also 2 Samuel 19:34–37; 1 Kings 1:1
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
Persecution
2 Corinthians 11:30 See also Numbers 11:14–15; 1 Kings 19:3–6; Matthew 26:38, Matthew 27:32 The physical weakness of Jesus Christ after flogging led to Simon carrying the cross; Acts 14:19–20; 1 Corinthians 2:3 Weakness and fear are often associated; 2 Corinthians 11:23–29
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Being faced with opposition
Numbers 13:18; 2 Samuel 3:29; Nehemiah 6:9
Corporate weakness
2 Chronicles 20:12 See also Leviticus 26:36; Judges 6:15; 2 Samuel 3:1; Lamentations 1:6
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Believers' responsibility to the weak
Acts 20:35 See also Psalm 41:1; Ezekiel 34:4; Romans 14:1, Romans 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:14
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
The weakness of God
2 Corinthians 13:4 See also 1 Corinthians 1:25; Hebrews 4:15
For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.