Num 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Jos 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Jdg 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

In Grace,

Cornel

I believe that I am preaching to the choir when I say this…Scripture is often the best interpreter of Scripture. I believe it is important to add to your piece on “thorn in the flesh” that Paul did not make this term up…he usurped it from the Old Testament.

I am sooooo tired of the term being used to claim that it is not always God’s will to heal sickness. On his missionary journies the Jews were Paul’s worst enemies, often trying to kill him. You are spot on with your interpretation that Paul’s reference to this term “thorn in the flesh” was a reference to persecution, not illness. I believe Paul is referring to these menacing Jews.

Paul was an expert on Scripture. “Thorn in the side/flesh” is a phrase used in Numbers and Judges (I’m going from memory here) to refer to the people who persecuted the people of the ancient nation of Israel. This is where Paul got the term and he is using it in the exact same context. Paul would never have used this term in any context other than that in which God had already inspired.

Your brother in Christ,

steve

Hope you enjoy it.

Cornel

I can’t wait for part 2, the actual meaning of “messenger” (anglios) right?

Awesome message, powerful right to the core!!!!

Bless you my dearest brother, bless your socks off.