Bible Reading for July 9 – II Corinthians 11:30-12:12

A lot of ink has been spilled on the question of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (v. 7). It was some sort of injury or physical weakness – some suggest it was a vision problem that lingered from the temporary blindness Paul had suffered during his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. The Corinthians of course knew what it was, since Paul had spent 18 months with them while organizing their congregation (Acts 18:11). And so, since Paul declines to state the obvious, we feel the frustration of someone who hears only half of a telephone conversation.

But let’s face it – if God had wanted us to know the nature of Paul’s malady, He would have told us. And so instead of trying to satisfy our curiosity about Paul’s problem, perhaps we should focus instead on what God wanted Paul to learn from it. And the first lesson is a most difficult one indeed: sometimes God does not, in fact answer our prayers for healing. Paul prayed fervently on three separate occasions for release from his “thorn” (v. 8), but God never did remove that weakness from him.

And why not? Paul gives us two reasons. In the first place, he acknowledges that his weakness kept him from being too elated by the tremendous talents and gifts God had given him (v. 7). In fact, God had gone so far as to grant Paul a vision of heaven (vv. 2-4). So Paul came to understand that his physical weakness was a helpful antidote to the many reasons he had for pride – sure he might have seen heaven, but he couldn’t even see to walk across the floor!

But God gave Paul another reason that his weakness was actually helpful to him: it allowed him to display God’s power all the more clearly (v. 9). For when God helps us bear with a problem that we cannot solve or a sickness that we cannot overcome in our own strength or ability, He provides us the opportunity to give Him the credit for whatever courage or endurance we might display in the process.

Yes, the miraculous is still most evident precisely when the situation is least possible. So in those times when we are obviously in over our heads, even times when our very bodies are completely out of our control, will we lose faith in a God who withholds His healing from us? Or will we embrace the opportunity to reveal the Christ within us – the Christ Who embraced suffering so that we might be saved?

II Corinthians 11:30-12:12 (ESV)

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven– whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise– whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows–
4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses–
6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.