Topical Bible: Blindness: Isaac

◄ Blindness: Isaac ►

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In the biblical narrative, Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is a significant patriarch whose life is marked by various events, including an episode of blindness in his later years. This physical condition plays a crucial role in the unfolding of God's covenantal promises and the dynamics within Isaac's family.

Isaac's blindness is most notably mentioned in the context of the blessing of his sons, Esau and Jacob. The account is found in Genesis 27, where Isaac, advanced in age, is described as having dimmed eyesight. The Berean Standard Bible states, "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" (Genesis 27:1). This physical impairment sets the stage for the subsequent events that lead to Jacob receiving the blessing intended for Esau.

Isaac's blindness is not merely a physical ailment but serves as a narrative device that highlights the themes of deception, divine sovereignty, and the fulfillment of God's promises. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, orchestrates a plan for Jacob to deceive his father and receive the blessing. The BSB recounts how Jacob, with Rebekah's guidance, disguises himself as Esau to receive the blessing from his blind father: "Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob" (Genesis 27:15).

The blindness of Isaac underscores the limitations of human perception and the mysterious ways in which God's purposes are accomplished. Despite Isaac's intention to bless Esau, God's sovereign plan, as revealed earlier to Rebekah, is fulfilled: "The LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger'" (Genesis 25:23). Isaac's inability to see physically parallels the spiritual insight required to discern God's will, which ultimately prevails.

Isaac's blindness also serves as a reminder of the frailty of human life and the dependence on God's guidance. In the broader biblical context, physical blindness often symbolizes spiritual blindness or a lack of understanding. However, in Isaac's case, it becomes a means through which God's providential plan is realized, demonstrating that God's purposes transcend human limitations.

The account of Isaac's blindness and the subsequent blessing of Jacob over Esau is a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, illustrating the complexities of family relationships, the consequences of deception, and the overarching theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

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Genesis 27:1
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his oldest son, and said to him, My son: and he said to him, Behold, here am I.
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Concerning the Sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob; of their Nativity ...
... without so much as asking the advice of his father; for had Isaac been the ... see at
all, he called Esau to him, and told him, that besides his blindness, and the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 18 concerning the sons.htm

Letter Lxviii. To Castrutius.
... that your blindness is caused by sin, and that a disease which physicians are often
able to cure is an evidence of God's anger, you will think Isaac a sinner ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxviii to castrutius.htm

Those Things which are Generally Looked on as Good are Mostly ...
... terrible as regards the grief they cause, such as blindness, exile, hunger, violation
of a daughter, loss of children. Who will deny that Isaac was blessed ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v those things which.htm

The Early Years of Jesus
... for naughtiness (same, 27);"these and many like legends exhibit incredible blindness
to the ... at work in the birth of great men in Israel (as Isaac, and Samson ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/v the early years of.htm

Against those who Object Because the Devil Has not Been Put Out of ...
... Entreat the common master of us all, to prolong thy life to the old age
of Isaac. For ... The light became a cause of blindness? The ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii against those who.htm

On the Great Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria.
... things above, I hold him to be miserable in his blindness, even though ... Men like Enoch,
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the twelve Patriarchs, Moses, Aaron, Joshua ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxi on the great.htm

Samson Conquered
... and Sarah by angels whom they entertained unawares; but save Isaac, Samson was ... A
shuffling gait, I said, because he had just received blindness, which was a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/samson conquered.htm

The Gospel of Matthew
... Abraham might begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, but Joseph the husband of Mary ...
the royal city, but outside of it; then we have the blindness and indifference ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/the gospel of matthew.htm

Psalm XLVII.
... the Gentiles, and that might be fulfilled which saith the Apostle, "Blindness in
part is ... of Abraham" (ver.9). The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlvii.htm

The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... And we came to Hebron to dwell there, and Isaac called me continually to put me
in ... the wisdom of the wise none can take away, save the blindness of ungodliness ...
/.../iii the testament of levi concerning.htm