Isaiah 41:21 “Present your plea,” says the Lord; “present your strong points,” says the King of Jacob.
Scriptural Case: Do the Hebrew scriptures describe the cause of the Thorn in Paul’s Flesh in the New Testament?
The New Testament:
2 Corinthians 12:7 (King James Version) 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.
Hebrew Scriptures:
Numbers 33:55 (Tanakh Hebrew Bible) But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, then those whom you leave over will be as spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you settle.
Joshua 23:13 (Tanakh Hebrew Bible) Know of a certainty that the Lord your God will not drive these nations out from before you, anymore; and they will be a snare and an obstacle to you, and a goad in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.
Judges 2:3 (Tanakh Hebrew Bible) And I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you, and they will be pokers to you and their gods will be a stumbling block to you.’ ”
1 Samuel 16:14 (King James Version) But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
Did Saul (also known as Paul), abandon his original mission to drive inhabitants from off the land in the New Testament?
Acts 9:1 (King James Version) And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
(Quote from Jesus Christ in the New Testament)
Matthew 24:5 (King James Version) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Acts 9:19-21 (King James Version) And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Act 16:37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Acts 25:10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Based upon the scriptural argument above, can you conclude from the Hebrew scriptures (Tanakh) what the Invisible Thorn in Paul’s Flesh is?
