When will people stop blaming God? I had the hair on my arms rise again, this week, when I heard the same sentence I have heard through the years,  “they are sick because, God is allowing them to have this sickness, (a thorn in the flesh) to keep them humble as He did Paul, because God has a bigger vision for them.  He is honoring them to lead, because they are His servants.

 Well, I want to comment on that subject. 

(Titus 3:9-11)

9. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

10. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

11. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

 Why are people always so quick to put the blame on God?

"God is too wise to ever make a mistake and too loving to ever be unkind..."

Duane Pederson

 (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) 

7. " And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me.

9. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 God did not want Paul to exalt himself through the abundance of revelations given him, so He permitted him to have the thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.   I am going to give you the simplest explanation of the thorn in the flesh that is possible.  It was  "the messenger, pronounced anggelos meaning angel of Satan. Anggelos is translated angel 179 times and messenger 7 times.     It is never translated disease or physical infirmity and never means any such thing.  An angel of Satan, one of the spirit beings, which fell with him, followed Paul and buffeted him when he was tempted to become exalted. 

(2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

23. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

25. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

26. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.

27. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been

cold and naked.

 28. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Paul lists in the above scriptures some of the things that this angel caused him to go through to keep him humble.  There is not a disease in the whole list.  Paul's thorn must be understood in the same sense as the scriptures below, where the same thorn, if found in the Scriptures there. Were those giants and enemies of Israel diseases in their sides or the cause of their wars and other kinds of suffering?

   Now, I know everyone has the right to his or her own beliefs.  But I can tell you that God does not, and will never give someone a disease or sickness.

God himself tells us in His Word how we need to take care of our bodies spiritually and physically. Sometimes we ourselves do not remember this, and when we do not take care of ourselves things will happen. But, that is our own doings, not Gods. We sure cannot blame it on God. 

   I also know that we, just as Jesus, and just as Paul told Timothy, that as a servant of Jesus Christ that we will have hardships.

(2 Timothy 2: 1-3)

1. You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

3. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

 Remember we are free agents and God is a gentleman and will not force us to do anything that we do not want to do.  He gives us guidance and direction, but it is up to us the path we choose.

I do not know about you, but I choose not to be sick.  Jesus died that I might be well and healthily.

(Numbers 33:55)

55 " 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.

(Ezekiel 28:24)

24 " 'No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.

      If I can do anything, I hope that I can get you to search the scriptures and let God talk to you.  God Bless each of you.