Did God Cause a Man to be Born Blind?

[dizerner]

I would think, just offhand, that an old famous prophet coming back to life is different than being reincarnated as a baby again. Anyone know if reincarnation plays any part in the Jewish literature, Mishnah, Targum, Midrash, things like that?

[dizerner]

Hi dizerner,

God can do far worse than what John 10:10 attributes to "The Thief" - Matt 10:28 say, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Therefore, this being a constant in God's "Ruling Kingdom" how is pain or death, both spiritual and physical, a division against Himself? IMO it's not, because God is soveriegn over all things, needing no counsel regarding His purposes.

Christ attributes physical pain to Satan in origin (Luke 13:16) or else the fall of Adam (Genesis 3).

Of course God can allow others to inflict all sorts of pain to people, however, He can also overule it as well (the firey furnance and the lions den). The fact is, He allows it or inflicts it Himself for His own purposes.

God promises to make all things new and no longer have any pain(Revelation 21:1-5).

I will refrain from answering this, else I'll be accused of injecting my 'hobby horse' eschatology into the fray .

God Bless.

What I think you're not addressing is judgment against autonomous rebellion. This is pretty much a strong, even over-riding biblical theme. I also don't think you addressed the fact that God clearly says there is a will opposed to his. Determinism denies both those biblical truths. No one doubts God can hurt us worse than Satan. The question is, we all often suffer from things we had nothing to do with. Does God like to hurt people for no reason or does Satan?

[steve7150]

Steve 7150 wrote:
Why not indeed. They even believed at that time that the baby could have sinned in the womb and that's why he was born blind.

Steve, are you sure they believed that?

There is some evidence that in those days the Jews believed in reincarnation.








Yes i have read or heard various beliefs at that time including the baby sinning in the womb and as you pointed out reincarnation.

[robbyyoung]

What I think you're not addressing is judgment against autonomous rebellion.

Hi dizerner,

That's because the text isn't addressing that issue. The text is actually addressing God's autonomous (sovereign) judgment. For I hold to the traditional interpretation. From our understanding, using the revised interpretation, it would seem that God doesn't play by His own rules. Of course this isn't true, it just has the appearance of being true, and this is so, because God doesn't always explain His reasons for doing something. Here's an excellent example:

Lev 24:5-9 This Leviticus passage shows how the bread or cakes are prepared and arranged. This text also makes it clear these cakes are for Aaron, the high priest and his sons. These cakes are to be eaten in the holy place. This explains why Jesus said it was unlawful for David and his men to eat them (Matthew 12:3-4).

So why wasn't God's wrath poured out on David and his men? Is God being unfair, not abiding by His own Word? Of course not and here's why.

Leviticus 2:1-7 show us bread or cakes are also referred to as meat and here's the importance of this:

Leviticus 22:10-11 There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.

Therefore, Leviticus 22 informs us that no stranger, tenant, anyone lodging with the priest or any hired hand of the priest is allowed to eat the holy shewbread. However, If a priest buys any soul, a man, woman or child, that person has the right to eat it.

Wow! Doesn't this sound familiar? Yeshua was slain from before the foundation of the world. Yeshua is our High Priest and WE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE! This verse explains a part of the plan of salvation and why David and his men were allowed to eat the shewbread.

God knows the end from the beginning and He DOES NOT have to explain the details or His reasons for everything He does. I am thankful that He at least gives us viable proof, though scripture, how something may seem contradictory but actually isn't, and this is because of His ultimate power and authority to make provisions beforehand to satisfy His Word. We should simply believe and trust Him that He is just, righteous, and perfect in His ways, as I'm sure we all do.

I also don't think you addressed the fact that God clearly says there is a will opposed to his. Determinism denies both those biblical truths.

IMHO, "Determinism" is just another useless man-made argument against God's sovereignty. Why? Because just like in the example above concerning David and his men, God left everybody, without explanation, for over 100's of years why David and his men were allowed to live. God obviously made provisions for these men, in eternity past, as outlined and finally explained in the New Covenant. Autonomous rebellion and opposing wills, as you put it, DOES NOT override provisions made by God in eternity past, which is a far greater SPIRITUAL understanding and over-riding biblical theme regarding faith, hope and love.

Consequently, this leaves us to ask, how many more spiritual truths are unknown to us, whilst we, because of our ignorance, accuse and strip God of His wisdom in dealing with us? IMHO, I think we are all guilty of this at times .

No one doubts God can hurt us worse than Satan. The question is, we all often suffer from things we had nothing to do with. Does God like to hurt people for no reason or does Satan?

"Does God like to hurt people for no reason?". I understand the concern here, but this is the damaging belief that comes from not trusting God. It doesn't matter who the recipient is on the side of being hurt. In the end, I don't think a Child of God could surmise it was "for no reason". No, God does not like to hurt people. But when He does, it's not FOR NO REASON and He doesn't have to explain the reasons to us, nor does He, most of the time. We should know His reasons are just and I think, for the most part, we do.

God Bless.

[Paidion]

I would think, just offhand, that an old famous prophet coming back to life is different than being reincarnated as a baby again. Anyone know if reincarnation plays any part in the Jewish literature, Mishnah, Targum, Midrash, things like that?

Here is a sentence in an article from a Jewish website:

Consequently, many Jews are surprised to learn, or may even wish to deny, that reincarnation - the "revolving" of souls through a succession of lives, or "gilgulim" - is an integral part of Jewish belief. But this teaching has always been around. And it is firmly rooted in source-verses.

If you wish to read the entire article, you can go to the website here:

http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_ ... nation.htm