Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: Why God Allowed It

God’s Word explicitly states that history is cyclic in nature and is in a constant process of repeating itself. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we are told that there is indeed “no new thing done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In God’s Sovereign Plan for the History of Mankind there are times however when it is best that this repetition of events should not be allowed to occur. It is at these times that God steps in and takes action to ensure that history does not indeed, “repeat itself”. This fact is no more poignantly exhibited than in the life of the Apostle Paul.

After Paul’s conversion into the newly born body of believers in Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4-6), his life took a dramatic turn. He became a leading promoter of the faith which he had initially attempted to destroy.

One of the aspects of this new life that Paul was experiencing was the fact that God had sovereignly allowed for Paul to acquire a “thorn in the flesh” (II Corinthians 12:7-10).

Why would God allow such an impediment at a time when the Church was, in a sense, “just getting off the ground”? This question has been a topic of discussion throughout the course of Church History.

It is a question that we too will now attempt to further address.

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

Through the years believers have conjectured as to what Paul’s thorn in the flesh may have been, as Scripture is silent on the matter.

Many maintain that this “thorn” was in some way related to Paul’s ability to see (Galatians 4:15). Others speculate that the “thorn” caused Paul considerable pain because, after all, that is “what thorns do.”

Perhaps we can better understand Paul’s thorn in the flesh by approaching the issue from a different perspective. Instead of asking, “What may the thorn have been?” we might ask, “Why may this thorn have been necessary in the first place?”

While Scripture indicates that the thorn was given to Paul by Satan, God ultimately allowed it for a specific purpose. It served to keep Paul humble (II Corinthians 12:7).

We must always remember that God’s sovereignty controls the events of World History: “For of Him, through Him, and to Him are all things…” (Romans 11:36).

To better understand how God could allow Satan to infiltrate into Paul’s life in this severe way, let us first examine the life of Paul within the context of the life of his Old Testament counterpart, Moses.

History Repeats Itself

When we compare the life of Paul with the life of Moses, we find many obvious similarities. So much so that in some ways Paul’s life was a repetition of Moses’ life. The following is a list of life events that these two giants of the faith had in common:

1. Moses and Paul Were Pre-Eminent Biblical Figures

What Moses was to the Old Testament narrative, Paul was to the New Testament story.

Apart from the 2nd Person of the Trinity, Moses and Paul were the respective pre-eminent Personages of the Old and New Testaments. The “Jehovah” of the Old Testament would later become “Jesus” of the New Testament.

2. Moses and Paul Were Prolific Biblical Writers

Moses was the most prolific human writer of the Old Testament, having written the first five Books of the Bible. Paul was the major human contributor to the New Testament record, having written a minimum of 13 of its 27 Books.

3. Moses and Paul Experienced Unique Communication With God

Moses and Paul are both said to have engaged in special and unique open communication with God (Exodus 33:11. Acts 9:4-6).

4. Moses and Paul Exhibited the “Love of Christ”

Moses and Paul are the only 2 people in Biblical History who are stated to have possessed the “love of Christ”.

This was exhibited when both Moses and Paul expressed a willingness to be eternally separated from God. They did so out of their desire that their Hebrew brethren might be saved (Exodus 32:32, Romans 9:3).

5. Moses and Paul Experienced the Presence of God

Both Moses and Paul were given special status amongst men by being taken away from the cares of this world to experience the Presence of God for an extended period of time (Exodus 34:28-35, II Corinthians 12:2).

6. Moses and Paul Shared Physical Limitations

Moses and Paul shared the physical limitation of being slow of speech (Exodus 4:10-12, II Corinthians 10:10). This made them both unlikely candidates for being God’s chief spokesman for either the Old or New Testaments.

Truly, “God’s strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). God has no need of the strength of men to accomplish His Purposes: “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

7. Miracles Were Performed Through Moses and Paul

Numerous miracles were wrought at the hands of both Moses and Paul.

Moses performed countless miracles in the Book of Exodus, including the 10 plagues brought upon Egypt to deliver the Hebrew people from bondage. Paul is also credited with having cured numerous people of various diseases during the course of his ministry (Acts 19:11,12). He even brought a young man back from the dead (Acts 20:9-12).

It is because of these and other factors that the examination of Paul’s life can be better understood when compared to the events that occurred in the life of Moses.

A Significant Difference Between Moses and Paul

While the lives of Moses and Paul share numerous similarities, there is also a significant difference. Although Moses, like Paul, had minor physical limitations, Moses had never experienced a “thorn in the flesh” as Paul had.

We shall see that by not having this humbling thorn in the flesh, Moses experienced some rather unpleasant consequences.

Moses was a person of extreme humility. Indeed, Scripture refers to him as the “most humble man on earth” (Numbers 12:3). Yet, like all men born in Adam, he still possessed a sinful nature.

Sadly, the deeply personal and unique relationship that Moses experienced with God apparently caused him to develop an erroneous concept of that relationship. In fact, he may have become a bit too “chummy” with his Creator.

Moses, Meribah, and the Rock

During the course of their Wilderness wanderings, the Hebrew people experienced numerous trials and difficulties, including their two visits to Meribah, where they had on both occasions run out of water.

At their first visit, God instructed Moses to strike the “rock” with his rod. The rock then brought forth streams of “life giving water” to the people.

. At the second occurrence, God had instructed Moses to simply “speak to the rock” so that it might supply the people with their needed water.

What God was doing here was setting up a Biblical type involving Christ, who is our ultimate “Rock.” Christ is smitten once, after which rivers of the living waters of salvation are poured into the life of the believer (John 7:38).

After this, to experience these living waters once again, all the believer would need to now do is simply, “speak to the Rock”.

Unfortunately, apparent pride had developed in Moses’ heart from his illusory “chummy” relationship with God. Rather than simply speaking to the rock, Moses chose to take his rod and strike the rock twice. In doing so, he debased the “Biblical type” that God was incorporating into His Word.

In so doing, Moses had in effect “misrepresented” God to the Hebrew people. For this transgression, Moses was effectively forbidden to enter the Promised land (Deuteronomy 32:51).

Moses Misrepresents God

When we read the Biblical narrative of this event, we also see how Moses’ unique and special relationship with God may have caused his heart to go askew:

“And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now ye rebels; must “we” (emphasis mine) fetch you water out of this rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice…” Numbers 20:10, 11

Notice how Moses appears here to attribute the miracle to himself and his special relationship with God: “must we fetch you water out of this rock.”

Although Moses was the humblest man on earth, his sin nature had gotten the best of him. When coupled with his special standing with God, it had caused him to become anything but humble.

Why Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh May Have Been Necessary

God could not risk having the Apostle Paul in New Testament times repeat these same erroneous actions of Moses, as there was a lot at stake.

God’s intention for the words of the New Testament texts was slightly different from His purpose for the words found within the Old Testament record.

This is evidenced by the fact that in the Old Testament we find basic theological principles being established along with an accurate historical narrative. Later in the New Testament, God’s Word goes a step further, and a strict and definitive theology is laid out.

Paul, like Moses, had a special and unique relationship with God. God could not allow Paul to develop pride in his heart because of this relationship and then misrepresent Him and His Word as Moses had done.

In so doing, Paul would have effectively disqualified himself from writing a credible “exacting theology” within the New Testament record. This theology needed to stand up to serious critical examination.

Therefore, so that “History might not repeat itself”, God ordained that Paul, unlike Moses, would have a “thorn in his flesh” to keep him humble.

What Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh Can Teach Believers

These things should remind believers that we too may encounter seemingly needless impediments and obstacles in life. The Lord may have allowed them in order to accomplish His own “eternal purposes” within our individual lives.

This is why Paul admonishes believers to be thankful for all the events of our lives, both good and bad (I Thessalonians 5:18).

For it is God who is actively working through all the events of our lives for our own personal eternal good (Romans 8:28).

All praise and glory be unto God !

Related Studies from Paradigms Tossed

Continue exploring how God uses trials, limitations, and difficult circumstances to mature believers and accomplish His purposes through these related studies:

Refined Like Silver: How God Uses Trials to Mature Believers
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God Knows the Future: Trusting Him Through Life’s Trials
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The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same
This study examines how God continues to mature believers through faith, testing, and learning to rest in His promises—just as He did with Israel in the wilderness.

The Weightier Matters of the Law: Judgment, Mercy, and Faith
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Poetic Justice in the Bible: God’s Justice and the Measure We Use
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