There are a variety of theories about Isaac and whether or not he had additional needs or disabilities. 

That one of the most well-known characters of the Old Testament, through whom God delivered the great Abrahamic covenant*, and who was an ancestor of Jesus, might have had additional needs or disabilities is really significant.

Then a message from the Lord came to Abram. The Lord said, “When you die, what you have will not go to this man. You will have a son of your own. He will get everything you have”. The Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can”. Then he said to him, “That’s how many children will be born into your family”. Genesis 15:4-5 NIrV

It is clear that in later life Isaac was blind, ‘Isaac had become old. His eyes were so weak he couldn’t see anymore…’ (Genesis 27:1a NIrV), but there is some thought that Isaac had become blind because he was diabetic.

Theories supporting this thought (e.g. National Library of Medicine) include that Isaac may have prematurely aged, also that he needed a constant source of water (his servants were always digging wells, read Genesis 26:17-25, 32, for example), was fond of food (read Genesis 25:28, 26:30, 27:4, for example), and experienced the loss of his sight.

It took 20 years for Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, to have children, which while blamed on Rebekah, could also have been due to male impotence issues (read Genesis 25:20-26).

There are other theories that suggest that Isaac had some kind of lifelong developmental delay or learning disability. Evidence offered points to Isaac being a relatively largely silent figure, of which few achievements are recorded.

Born to older parents, as a youth he didn’t resist when his father, an old man, was going to sacrifice him (read Genesis 22:1-13); later his wife is chosen for him by his father’s servant (read Genesis 24:1-9) and he lived in his mother’s tent as an adult (read Genesis 24:67). 

It is Rebekah that receives the covenant promise from God about their children, rather than Isaac (read Genesis 25:23).

So, if Isaac, one of the most well-known characters of the Old Testament, and ancestor of Jesus, had additional needs or disabilities, what does that say to us today?

Here are some take-away questions to ponder…

Take-away questions

1. Isaac was the son of Abraham through whom God’s covenant was delivered; if that covenant was achieved through a disabled person, what does that tell us about how God can work through all disabled people for his purposes and plans?

2. If one of Jesus’ ancestors was disabled (and there are suggestions that there were more than one, e.g. Jacob who limped after wrestling with God), then how does that influence our thinking about the healing miracles of Jesus?

3. How does Isaac’s story encourage us to consider other characters in the Bible who may have had additional needs or disabilities (e.g. Jacob, or Samson), and to think about them afresh?

4. How does the way that Isaac was included and cared for by his family, his community, his people, and his God, challenge and inspire us to do likewise?

Mark Arnold, Director of Additional Needs Ministry at Urban Saints. Arnold blogs at The Additional Needs Blogfather. This article was re-published with permission.