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Part I HERE
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Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
Paul's Thorn In The Flesh
Sickness Is Very Often The Result Of Living In A Very Imperfect World or laid squarely at our own doors ...
But Can Be The Result of Sin
The Less Spectacular Unrecognized Miracles
Paul's Thorn In The Flesh
Paul suffered from what was presumably a physical affliction that he called a "thorn in the flesh". Although speculation abounds we have no idea what precisely was wrong. All we know is that he thrice asked the Lord to take it from him which God did not do, responding instead by saying "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB).
Undoubtedly not what Paul was hoping for.
We certainly cannot accuse Paul of a lack of faith thus have to consider that on occasion the Father has a definite purpose for allowing something untoward to continue. In this case, Paul was given this "thorn in the flesh" to prevent him from exalting himself regarding the vision he had.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn (Gk. skolops) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment (Gk. kolaphizo) me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored (Begged or beseeched) the Lord three times that it might leave me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NASB)
The Greek word skolops indicates something pointed like a stake or thorn. Unfortunately this is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament so we do not get to see how it was used elsewhere - always a useful thing to do. Some claim that the "thorn in the flesh" refers to oppression or persecution. However astheneia used three times in verses 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10 literally means weakness - physical or moral as shown in the following examples.
But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses (Gk. astheneia) . (Luke 5:15 NASB)
And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness (Gk. astheneia) caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness.(Gk. astheneia) " (Luke 13:11-12 NASB)
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness (Gk. astheneia) for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (Romans 8:26 NASB)
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness (Gk. astheneia) it is raised in power; (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NASB)
Sickness Is Very Often The Result Of Living In A Very Imperfect World
(The blame for many but not all of our afflictions can be laid squarely at our own doors)
All men can be tempted by pride and apparently Paul was no exception. His "thorn in the flesh" was given him by God so that he would not get above himself in any way but this does not mean that God always or even often inflicts any kind of malady on us in order to teach us a spiritual lesson or keep us in check.
There are other causes - most commonly is that we live in a world that is almost literally a petri dish of nasties that cause any number of problems. Our usually unhealthy diets, our lack of robust immune systems, the food industries' focus on profits rather than nutrition, the chemicals we are constantly surrounded by, lack of meaningful exercise, etc. etc. etc have made their job so much easier.
If that wasn't bad enough physical suffering can also be caused by the dark side. See Matthew 17:14-18 and Luke 13:10-16.
But Can Be The Result of Sin
The Psalms twice indicate that God brought down some malady on one or more people. (There may be other examples)
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin Heb. Chatta'ah). For my iniquities (Heb. âvôn) are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. My wounds grow foul and fester Because of my folly.... My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off. (Psalms 38:3-5, 11 NASB)
Fools, because of their rebellious way (Heb. pesha), And because of their iniquities (Heb. âvôn) , were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. (Psalms 107:17-18 NASB)
(More about the Hebrew words chatta'ah, pesha, and âvôn in
Old Testament word study of the words used for sin HERE)
On the other Hand
Job is a prime Old Testament illustration that sins do not necessarily bring calamity upon people. A wealthy man, he is described in the opening chapters of the book of Job as "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. (Job 1:1, 2:3 NASB).
However, Satan accused him of only serving God because he was so well off and to show he was wrong God permitted Satan to destroy every aspect of Job's once comfortable life.
Although his three friends could not figure out why Job would be afflicted in such a way if he had not sinned, Job steadfastly maintained that he had done nothing to warrant his misfortune and sickness. His later repentance was not related to sin but to not understanding how powerful, holy, and exalted God really was.
Jesus. In John 9:1-7, Jesus discredited the idea that there is an automatic connection between suffering and morality
Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. (John 9:3-7 NASB)
Although some may understandably feel that allowing the man to be born blind in order "that the works of God should be made manifest in him" was a cruel thing to so, we have to bear in mind that it may have been this miracle that caused the man (and who knows how many others who witnessed the miracle) to become believers. He may very well have traded some years of blindness for an eternity of perfect vision.
Additionally in his instructions to the church regarding sick people, James reinforced Jesus' teaching that sicknesses are not always the result of sin.
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15 NASB)
The Less Spectacular Unrecognized Miracles
It seems that all too many of us are focused on miraculous instantaneous healing thus if someone isn't healed before our very eyes we don't think God has done anything. But there are a variety of ways God heals and a variety of types of healing.
Take for example, the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 who was captain of the host of the king of Syria and called a highly respected great man.
He was also a leper.
To cut a long story short Naaman, hearing from an Israeli captive that there was a prophet in Samaria who could heal him, he made the trip to Israel. Elisha told the king of Israel to send Naaman to him but when he arrived at Elisha's house, Elisha didn't even come out to meet Naaman but sent a messenger to tell him to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times and his flesh would become clean. Naaman was displeased that he was received with so little ceremony, and departs in a rage.
He assumed Elisha would come out and call on the name of the LORD his God and cure him. Besides which he considered ''the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel' and could wash in them and be clean
He wanted to be cured, but his way.
The problem was he still had leprosy.
Luckily for him, he had servants who, probably putting their jobs on the line, persuaded him to do as Elisha instructed. Naaman finally dipped himself in the Jordan seven times and was made whole.
We are very much like Naaman in many ways. We want to tell God how and when to heal somebody and the quicker and more spectacular the method - the better.
And it does happen.
However, God also heals in other ways and if we like Naaman walk off all huffy and disappointed, we will miss many of the Father's very understated miracles, but miracles nonetheless. In my case He didn’t fix me immediately but did lead us to the right doctor, enabled us to pay for the treatment (very extensive and expensive open heart surgery) and saw me through the long recovery
And there are times when God requires our participation. Just like Namaan we may have to do something, but that is not how we wish to be healed. We don't want the trouble of doing or changing something - sounds too much like work. We forget that had Naaman not finally done what Elisha instructed he would have died a leper.
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