The Shelter of God's Promises Participant's Guide by Sheila Walsh

Author:Sheila Walsh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROMISES

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10.

This small portion of 2 Corinthians is one of the most difficult in the New Testament to interpret. Paul speaks of a particular difficulty that has been given to him to temper his pride. He tells of a “thorn in the flesh” ( skolops te sarki) and a “messenger of Satan.” Skolops means something that is sharp and pointed, which could denote anything from a fishhook to a stake. Some commentators speculate the thorn to be opponents of Paul, a relational hardship. The Greek text literally reads “an angel of Satan strikes me,” so they tie the messenger or angel to the suffering that Paul experienced. Others see the two as unconnected hardships—speculating that God supplied the thorn to keep Paul humble while Satan separately tormented him.

Possible physical ailments that have been suggested include speech problems, running sores in the eyes, epilepsy, and various nervous disorders. Some wonder if it was sexual temptation. But many believe it could have been chronic malaria, as this was a common illness in the Mediterranean. Whatever the source, Paul focuses on the good of the gospel as God gave him the grace and strength to bear the hardship. It is clear from this passage that Paul was privy to amazing revelations that most will not see until heaven. This thorn kept Paul wholly dependent on God while he was on this earth.

Verse 9 is a powerful statement about how the grace of God can turn any burden into a source of renewal and a conduit for victory. Jesus is saying to Paul that His grace is enough to surpass the most challenging of opponents. He is saying that Paul’s weakness and suffering would be a place where His grace would shine. For the power of Jesus’ grace is only fully apparent when shown against the background of extreme suffering. Without trials and suffering we cannot see the greatness of God’s mercy. But in the face of any problem or disappointment or chronic suffering, the grace of Jesus is more than enough to turn a setback into victory. In verse 10, Paul says that in his weakness he is truly strong.

Paul suffered greatly at the hands of his opponents: imprisonment, beatings, stoning, and other abuses that at times brought him close to death. The thorn in the flesh seems to be something that was constant rather than an intermittent oppression. But in all this, Paul was content in his life. He actually took some pride in his hardship. For this is where Christ was glorified. And the promise to us is that no matter what the problem is, grace is greater. This was the promise of Christ to Paul and it is the promise of God to us. His grace is more than enough. Our role is to recognize His grace; our suffering becomes a tapestry where the glory of Christ is revealed in us.

1. How has God used the suffering in your life to highlight His grace?

2. Whether Satan

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