A “Thorn” in the Flesh to Keep Us Humble

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:7–10)

You have no doubt heard the expression, “Take your lemons and make lemonade.” Translated, that means, take the bad things that happen in your life and make something good out of them. Or, to state it another way: find the blessing in every situation in life. That is not always easy to do, especially when you are experiencing trials, persecution or suffering whether it be health issues, financial problems, spiritual attacks, constant danger, civil unrest, pandemics, war, or evil people as well the forces and influences of antichrist societal conditions. Many of these situations are chronic in that they are continual and we are powerless to change or avoid them. What then? As we learn from Paul’s thorn in the flesh passage in 2 Corinthians 12, when YHVH is in the picture of your life, the spiritual lemons can become lemonade, and out weakness comes strength. Or to put another way, YHVH gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa 61:3)! Let us now explore the implications and dynamics of this powerful concept and discover how to move into this place of strength and blessing out of weakness.

It is pointless to speculate as to what Paul’s thorn in the flesh or messenger of Satan was that was chronically afflicting him (2 Cor 12:7). Whether it was a physical disability, another person to whom he was irrevocably yoked such as an unbelieving wife or some other life situation over which he had no control, we do not know. But there is one thing we can deduce from this scripture passage. This thorn over which he had no control provided an opportunity for the devil to continually torment him. It was like a spiritual open door in his life over which he had no control that allowed the enemy to attack him directly and continually. Thus he had no choice but to endure it, since this was the proverbial hand of cards life had dealt him, and YHVH allowed it and for is spiritual betterment. (The same thing happened to Job!) As such, Paul took his proverbial lemons and made lemonade. That is, he took this weakness in his life and by the grace of YHVH turned it into a spiritual strength. To apply another metaphor to this discussion, instead of lamenting over his situation with a woe-is-me victim mentality or instead of seeing the glass as half empty, he chose the higher road of seeing the glass as being half-full. He chose to find the blessing in his difficult situation. He realized that this was an opportunity for spiritual refinement and strength building for the glory of Yeshua in spite of his trying situation. And after all, didn’t Yeshua have to walk down this same road himself? Being in the flesh and divesting himself of his glory was his monumental, and not to be underestimated “thorn in the flesh” . Yet it was necessary that he endure this physical existence all the way to the cross where he was murdered by  the same humans he had created ex nihlo. He had to drink this cup of suffering in order to be our Savior. If he did this for us, can we, for his sake, not endure small amount of buffeting that we experience in our life?

There are several things that a thorn in the flesh is not. It is not normal trials, suffering, persecution or tribulations that come as a result of being a serious the Christian (1 Pet 4:12–14). Also it is not suffering for the consequences of our own wrong actions (1 Pet 4:15). Rather, it is a specific situation that we cannot change, and which YHVH allows to remain in our lives for our spiritual refinement. At the same time, it is true that even in non thorn-in-the-flesh situations including the normal trials, persecution and suffering of this life, we still can learn to find the blessing and YHVH’s higher purpose four us in these as well.

The Example of Yeshua Being Humbled

It goes without saying that as Christians that Yeshua is our ultimate example to follow. When we came into a covenant relationship with him, we were baptized not only into his life, but also into his death and resurrection. There is no resurrection without death first. That means embracing the process of dying to self and all that it entails—not an easy process! Yeshua was made complete through humbling by taking on the weakness of humanity and enduring the shame and ignominy of ridicule, false accusation, blasphemy, rejection, betrayal and ultimately murder. 

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah Yeshua, who, being in the form of Elohim, did not consider it robbery to be equal with Elohim, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore Elohim also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name… (Phil 2:3–9)

He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isa 53:3)

Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? (Mark 9:12)

For even The Messiah did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.” (Rom 15:3)

For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil… (Heb 2:14)

[L]ooking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. (Heb 12:2)

Also consider the following Scriptures.

And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44–45)

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. (Luke 22:7)

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38)

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)

Now I say that Yeshua the Messiah has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of Elohim, to confirm the promises made to the fathers… (Rom 15:8)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15)

[T]hough He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him… (Heb 5:8–9)

If we are to walk with Yeshua and as he walked, will not the same occur to us? Is this not the ultimate laying down of one’s life, as he did? Is this not being conformed to his death in order to gain the highest reward? After all, Yeshua paved the way for his soon to be glorified and resurrected saints when he resurrected from the head, ascended to heaven where he is now at the right hand of his Father. A similar reward awaits those now who have put their faith in him and are overcoming the constant attacks of the world, flesh and the devil.

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