The Apostle Paul also had experiences that puzzle us if we fail to understand their purpose and context.

‭2 Corinthians 12:1-2, 5, 7-10 NLT‬
[1] This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. [2] I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows….
[5] That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses…
[7]…So, to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [8] Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul was trying to justify his positions as ‘spiritual father’ to the church at Corinth. There were others who came to teach them but not always the truth. Paul had opportunity to boast about out-of-body experiences but, rather than brag about these, he chose to boast about what God had done to keep him humble.

He speaks of an unusual gift which he called ‘a thorn in the flesh’. Where did this expression originate and what does it mean?

God used this expression to explain to His people the reason for them to exterminate the Canaanites when they entered the Promised Land. If the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, they would soon worship their gods and adopt their ways. Idolatry is like a thorn which pierces the flesh, causing pain and infection, and eventually death if not eradicated. Idolatry defiles everyone, tempting idolaters to do evil.

‭Judges 2:1-3 NLT‬
[1] “The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. [2] For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? [3] So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be THORNS in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”

‭Deuteronomy 29:18 NLT‬
[18] “I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears BITTER and POISONOUS FRUIT.”

The writer to the Hebrews warns against bitterness. The root of grudges and offenses that makes people bitter is self and particularly self-pity, which is idolatry.

‭Hebrews 12:15 NLT‬
[15]”Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

Only God’s grace can deliver us from bitterness. We become our own god when we elevate ourselves above others, judging them but not ourselves.

When Paul was constantly faced with trouble and hardship, and especially persecution from his own people as well as from the Roman government, he thought Satan was after him. Satan probably was, but Paul had something else to learn.

His prayers for deliverance went unanswered but…God promised him enough grace to overcome every situation so that he would not become bitter against those who caused him trouble. He was never to elevate himself above other people. Rather, he was to submit himself to God’s sovereignty and celebrate the hardships that reminded him of his weakness and kept his feet on the ground.

No, Paul was not sick, nor did he have eye problems as some have tried to identify his ‘thorn’. He himself tells us what his thorn was.

‭2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT‬
[10″That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What a valuable lesson to learn! Paul exulted in the suffering he experienced for his obedience to Jesus. It was the trials and hardships that kept him from having inflated ideas about himself that would have fuelled an attitude of self-sufficiency and cut him off from God’s grace.

‭James 4:6 NLT‬
[6] And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Once again, the Bible explains itself and leads us to understand the truth if what God wants us to know.

To be continued…