Day 110, 2 Corinthians 12 
What a struggle Paul
had as he worked to win back the hearts of the Corinthian believers who had
been duped by false apostles. He was loathe to boast about himself---knowing
that he was a "nobody" yet also "in no respect inferior to the
most eminent apostles"---but he felt that he had no other option. So we
find him writing of a man whom he knew---surely speaking of himself---who
"was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words" and
received "surpassing revelations" (12:4, 7). It was such a sacred event
to Paul that it was not something he readily shared.
The potential for Paul
to be lifted up in pride because of his heavenly journey and wonderful
revelations was apparently so great that God took significant measures to make
sure that he would not exalt himself. Paul was given a "thorn in the
flesh" (12:7), clearly a figurative expression.
This passage has
unfortunately been used to rob sick Christians of faith to be healed. May I
point out that Paul never said that he was ill, he never said that he asked God
to heal him, and he never said that God would not heal him. Paul clearly
revealed what his "thorn in the flesh" was, calling it "a
messenger of Satan." The word translated "messenger" in 12:7 is
the Greek word aggelos,
which is translated 168 times in the New Testament as "angel" and
only 7 times as "messenger." Paul's thorn in the flesh was an angel
of Satan sent to torment him. Paul asked the Lord three times that
"it" might leave him, but the Lord denied his request, which would
make sense if it was the Lord who originally permitted the angel to torment
Paul in order to prevent him from exalting himself.
How exactly that angel
of Satan tormented Paul we are not told, but the result was that Paul found
himself weak and needing to depend on the Lord, so that the "power of
Christ" was manifested in him. I suspect that tormenting angel was
responsible for much of the persecution that was stirred up against Paul, as he
referred in this same passage to the weaknesses, insults, distresses,
persecutions, and difficulties that he experienced, problems that made him
weak, but that ultimately resulted in his being strong, since God's "power
is perfected in weakness" (12:9-10). Notice that there is no mention of
sickness in Paul's list of difficulties here; nor was sickness mentioned in
Paul's earlier list of his various sufferings listed in 11:23-33.
I have two final
questions for those who still cling to the idea that Paul's thorn in the flesh
was some sickness or disease, using it as their reason to remain sick:
"How many journeys to heaven have you experienced that make it necessary
for God to keep you from exalting yourself by means of your sickness?"
And, "If God wants you to remain sick, why are you going to a doctor or
taking medication to thwart God's will?" (I rest my case!)
It is good to always
remember that what God said to Paul is true for us all. Our weakness is an
opportunity for God to show His strength. When our own resources are
inadequate, God's resources are unlimited! We can thus say with Paul,
"When I am weak, then I am strong" (12:10). When you feel lousy, God
feels great! So trust in Him!
Note Paul's contrast
of himself and the false apostles: "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you...by signs
and wonders and miracles" (12:12). That would seem to indicate that not a
few of the modern "apostles," whose greatest sign or wonder is
pushing someone over in a prayer line, are not apostles at all.
In spite of Titus'
good report, it is obvious that Paul remained apprehensive that his upcoming
visit to Corinth might uncover "strife, jealousy, angry tempers,
disputes...impurity, immorality and sensuality" (12:20-21), sins that,
according to Paul himself, will prevent people from inheriting God's kingdom
(Gal. 5:19-21). This reveals the real root of the problem in Corinth. Goats, by
nature, don't act like sheep. And goats don't belong with sheep. A showdown was
on the horizon.
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