God gave me a disfiguring condition, now he doesn't love me?

Question

Leviticus 21:16-23

The LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron: 'For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.

Such love is hard to find I proclaim.

No, this verse seems to have more weight.

God is unchanging, why did he think the disfigured 'desecrated' his sanctuary? Those are strong words.

Answer 1

god also gives a recipe for excrement cakes in Ezekiel 14....yum

Answer 2

Three things:

1. Bible is likely as much a work of speculation by man that has been corrupted over time as it is a revelation of what God thinks if he/she exists.

2. In the OT God was seen as a perfectionist, unapproachable by imperfect man. The insistence of having nothing physically imperfect near the temple would normally be seen as a allegory that God wants our hearts to be perfect.

See reference by others re: "The reference in the books of the law is referring to the qualifications to become a priest". It does not necessarily mean that God dislikes you. NT talks about people having disabilities to serve some higher purpose. (I don't think I have met too many people impressed with that platitude) Also there is talk (in OT?) about sins of the ancestors passing to descendants.

Jesus intimated that this was a load of you know what. If Jesus supposedly went against accepted interpretations that didn't seem right to him, you should look to your heart for what is right rather than needing a biblical lawyer to decide if you are worthwhile.

In the NT Jesus and Holy Spirit supposedly give an amended way of getting right with God that is more attainable.

3. If we look at multiple religions and religious-like philosophies across cultures and times there are many similarities about what God or Life expects of us. Generally speaking it is the heart and not the body or mind that apparently needs to be without blemish.

Do not worry what the Bible or religion says, look into your heart and if you find love there, you will find it elsewhere also.

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I am pretty disfigured myself but more so from my bad management than God's retribution for the sins of my fathers. If I was a woman I would be seeking drastic cosmetic assistance.

Recently I asked a friend if I looked ugly, after pointing out my imperfections. I was told I look like me.

Self confidence is far more important to attractiveness than looks. If you look bad you can try to change your appearance but if you have a bad heart you will still be ugly.

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Many years ago I was teaching table tennis in an isolated town. We ran a competition. The person who won was universally regarded as the best sportsperson in town. H was the number 1 striker for the soccer (football) team; and the opening bat and opening bowler for the cricket team. I also believe he was the top student in his school; and the most charismatic and apparently best loved person in the town.

He had only one leg and no arms.

True story.

Answer 3

Hi Disfigured, New Year's getting near;put yourself together, get ready for it. Let me congratulate you for being born as you are. We Buddhist believe that we are what we have done to others or ourselves. The past is past;live for the present to prepare for a better future. It's in your hand to do or not to do. What you see or hear is dhamma=phenomina,let it be your teacher. If there's such God he wouldn't be so mean as to create unhappy you! Why, he takes revenge in you while in your mother's womb? No!
Now it's about time you helped yourself , no one else will..do it better. Find out what life is all about,it takes millions of life time, so start it now!!
Learn to love yourself if it seems nobody does, Everymorning you wake up and set a resolution like: I'll do no friction towards other being and train your mind to respect and be kind to yourself. Speak only words of truth and kindness...its a mental aerobic. A lot of people waste their sweat with the hope to keep their figure what, sexy, fit or pleasing while you're training your mind to be fit for this funny world and refuge in peace.You'll see how your disfiguration can be your great teacher..Cheers , have a beautiful thought of yourself to celebrate the coming year, be a new you, wow, Metta, Samsara

Answer 4

Careful not to take one small section and interpret all of theology.

You wouldn't claim to understand physics because you read one chapter from a science book.
People study the Bible for years and are still learning from it.

Best advice - don't jump to conclusions. With the Bible, you are not only dealing with a Divinely inspired work, but you also have to be careful to understand the time period and history, ESPECIALLY in the Old Testament.

What may appear to be just a rock on the surface may actually be a diamond underneath.

Answer 5

The reference in the books of the law is referring to the qualifications to become a priest (see Aaron).
In order to enter the holy of holies, the priest had to fit all that. The sacrifice was made for him just before he would enter, else he be imperfect in God's presence.
As far as a disfiguring condition, please don't believe that He has no love for you. Were that true, Jesus would never have healed the sick and lame...
Since Christ paid for our sins (imperfections), we are all made whole and holy in His eyes, if we accept the gift that He made for us.
We can't know His reason for the things we get in our lives- for good or ill.
Even if He were to explain it to us, we would likely not understand it anyway.

Answer 6

I believe that it was because Palsy and so on and so forth was contagious back then and it was to prevent anyone else from catching it. Kind of like the don't eat unclean meat thing, God just wants what's best for all

Answer 7

woa

hold the horses

this is the Old Testament for the Levitical order of the Priesthood

Not for you

God is on the inside and teaches us to put off sin,

eg hate , lies, sorrow, depression, anger , violence, perversions

There is simply no verse that teaches a Born again Christian to hate or to feel bad about disfigurement

on the contrary believers are given the smack in the gob , pardon the pun for thinking of themselves better than the poor person in vile raiment
and to think that they are better than others

Answer 8

*snort*

God 'gave' me a cleft palate when I was born, but I don't take that to mean rejection.

This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages, when such beliefs were common.

From a song: "God loves you and made you for the pleasure of knowing you."

Answer 9

This quote is from the Levitical law and only applied to priests who were involved in the ceremony described. I assure you that God has never created anyone He does not love & that includes you. God Loves You Very Much.

Answer 10

the fact that you think God doesnt love you is so not true! God loves you all the time no matter what you do or how you look. that doesnt mean he condones your sins, but he will always love you.

Answer 11

Maybe this will help:

1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."