Why would God inflict incurable diseases as described in Deuteronomy 28:35? Text In Focus “‘The LORD will afflict you with painful and incurable boils on your knees and legs, and they will spread from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head.’ ” (Deuteronomy 28:35) Covenant Framework Deuteronomy 28 records the blessings (vv. 1–14) and curses (vv. 15–68) of the Mosaic covenant, a classic Ancient Near-Eastern suzerain–vassal treaty. The suzerain (Yahweh) promises material, agricultural, military, and physical well-being for covenant fidelity and threatens the withdrawal of those benefits—culminating in disease and exile—for covenant breach. Stipulations, blessings, and sanctions are standard in second-millennium BC Hittite and Egyptian treaties (e.g., the Treaty of Mursili II, the Cairo fragment, and the Sefire steles), giving the legal form historical credibility and illustrating Israel’s contemporary literary milieu. Why Disease?—The Theological Logic 1. Justice: Holiness demands satisfaction for willful rebellion (Leviticus 19:2). Disease functions as measured, proportionate retribution for violations already enumerated (idolatry, immorality, social injustice). 2. Mercy through Warning: Temporal judgment is remedial, not merely punitive (Amos 4:6–11). Pain awakens conscience, drives repentance, and pre-empts the far graver, eternal judgment (Isaiah 1:5–6, 18–20). 3. Covenant Visibility: Bodily affliction turns the invisible reality of spiritual decay into a public, visible sign, reminding the nation—and surrounding peoples—of Yahweh’s exclusive sovereignty (Deuteronomy 29:24–28). 4. Foreshadowing Redemption: Incurable sores dramatize humanity’s moral leprosy and anticipate the Servant who “bore our sicknesses” (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17). Their incurability magnifies the uniqueness of divine healing through Christ (Luke 17:14–19). The Term “Incurable” “Anash” (אָנוּשׁ) can denote “grievous” or “beyond human remedy.” The Old Testament repeatedly declares certain divine judgments “incurable” (Jeremiah 30:12–15) yet reverses them when repentance occurs (Jeremiah 30:17). The impossibility therefore lies with human resources, never with God (2 Kings 20:5). The clause underscores humankind’s impotence apart from grace. Historical And Scientific Considerations • Egyptian medical papyri (Ebers, Edwin Smith) catalog ulcerative dermatological conditions matching the phrase “boils … from the sole to the crown.” • Merenptah’s Karnak reliefs depict prisoners covered in festering sores—an ancient visual of covenant curses. • Paleo-pathological studies at Lachish (Tell ed-Duweir) identify osteomyelitis and chronic skin ulcers in remains dated to the late eighth century BC, providing a medical backdrop for Deuteronomy’s language. Examples Of Disease As Divine Discipline • Egypt’s plagues—“boils breaking out with sores” (Exodus 9:8–11). • Miriam’s temporary leprosy (Numbers 12:10–15). • Gehazi’s permanent leprosy (2 Kings 5:27). • King Uzziah’s leprosy for cultic presumption (2 Chron 26:19–21). Each case illustrates graded responses: admonition, discipline, and potential restoration. New Testament Clarification Christ absorbs the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). Believers may still experience illness, but never as legal punishment for sin already atoned; rather, trials refine faith (1 Peter 1:6–7) or correct conduct in familial discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). The final state promises complete eradication of disease (Revelation 21:4). Pastoral And Practical Application • Examine Life: Persistent, unrepented sin invites discipline (1 Corinthians 11:30–32). • Seek Grace: God “heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3) when healing serves His redemptive purposes. • Proclaim Hope: The incurable apart from Christ becomes curable in Christ; evangelism presents the antidote to humanity’s ultimate malady—sin. Conclusion In Deuteronomy 28:35 God threatens incurable disease to uphold covenant justice, to awaken repentance, and to foreshadow the necessity of a Messianic healer. Such judgments affirm His holiness, humanity’s accountability, and the indispensable grace found in the crucified and risen Christ. |
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