Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, blindness is often depicted as a physical ailment, but it also serves as a metaphor for spiritual ignorance or disobedience. Throughout Scripture, instances of blindness are sometimes portrayed as a divine judgment upon individuals or groups who have turned away from God's commandments or have acted in defiance of His will.Old Testament Instances One of the earliest examples of blindness as a divine judgment is found in the account of the men of Sodom. In Genesis 19:11, when the men of the city attempt to assault Lot's angelic visitors, the angels strike them with blindness: "And they struck with blindness the men at the entrance, both young and old, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door." This act of divine intervention serves as both a physical and moral judgment against the wickedness of Sodom. In Deuteronomy 28, blindness is listed among the curses that will befall Israel if they fail to obey God's commandments. Deuteronomy 28:28-29 states, "The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind, and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will not prosper in your ways; day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you." Here, blindness symbolizes the disorientation and helplessness that result from turning away from God. New Testament Examples In the New Testament, the theme of blindness as a judgment continues, often with a focus on spiritual rather than physical blindness. In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, which leads to a discourse on spiritual blindness. Jesus declares in John 9:39, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind." This statement underscores the idea that those who reject Jesus and His teachings are spiritually blind, a condition that serves as a judgment for their unbelief. The Apostle Paul also encounters blindness as a divine judgment in Acts 13:6-12. When Elymas the sorcerer opposes Paul and Barnabas, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares, "Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately, mist and darkness come over Elymas, and he gropes about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. This temporary blindness serves as a powerful sign of God's displeasure with Elymas's opposition to the Gospel. Theological Implications Blindness as a judgment in the Bible serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience. It illustrates the spiritual darkness that envelops those who reject God's truth and highlights the need for divine intervention to restore sight, both physically and spiritually. The biblical accounts of blindness as a judgment call believers to remain faithful to God's commandments and to seek His light in a world often shrouded in spiritual darkness. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 28:28The LORD shall smite you with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: Nave's Topical Index Library Have Read the Document Sent from the East by Our Friend and Good ... The Master Rejected: the Servants Sent Forth Those Persons Prove Themselves Senseless who Exaggerate the Mercy ... On the Same Lesson of the Gospel, John ix. , on the Giving Sight ... That in the Books of the Old Testament, Where it is Said that God ... In Pilate's Judgment Hall On the Resurrection, and the Judgment, the Fire of Hell, and ... John Chapter xviii. 28-32. Elisha's Closing Ministry Letter cxix. To Maximus, Bishop of Antioch, by the Hand of Marian ... Resources Is Jesus the Messiah? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does God hate sin? | GotQuestions.org Is it true that everything happens for a reason? | GotQuestions.org Blindness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Blindness of Animals, Disqualified for a Sacrifice Blindness: Disqualified for Priestly office Blindness: Miraculous Healing of Blindness: Miraculously Inflicted Upon the Sodomites Blindness: The Miraculous Healing of a Man Born Blind Blindness: The Miraculous Healing of a Man of Bethsaida Blindness: The Miraculous Healing of Bartimaeus Spiritual Blindness is Consistent With Communion With God Spiritual Blindness of Ministers, Fatal to Themselves and to the People Spiritual Blindness: A Work of the Devil Spiritual Blindness: Christ Appointed to Remove Spiritual Blindness: Christ's Ministers are Lights to Remove Spiritual Blindness: Churches of Laodicea Spiritual Blindness: Explained Spiritual Blindness: Judicially Inflicted Spiritual Blindness: Leads to all Evil Spiritual Blindness: Pray for the Removal of Spiritual Blindness: Removal of, Illustrated Spiritual Blindness: Saints are Delivered From Spiritual Blindness: Scribes and Pharisees Spiritual Blindness: The Effect of Sin Spiritual Blindness: The Self-Righteous are In Spiritual Blindness: The Wicked are In Spiritual Blindness: The Wicked Wilfully Guilty of Spiritual Blindness: Unbelief, the Effect of Spiritual Blindness: Uncharitableness, a Proof of Related Terms |
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