Good morning. We cannot deny the truth of it, God hurt him. Carefully, but deliberately, God gave him a lifelong disability when He dislocated Jacob’s hip. (Genesis 32)
In the New Testament we read about the “thorn in the flesh” of the apostle Paul. We are not told that God inflicted him with an illness, but we are told that Paul begged three times for the disabling aftermath of the illness to be taken from him. We are told that three times God responded, “no”.
When Jacob received his injury God told him he would be known as “Israel, ‘one who fights with God”’. Jacob, and his descendants who would become known as the people of God’s covenantal promise, needed a reminder of who they were and how they had come to be. Paul needed an affliction in his flesh to always remind him that it is God who is in control, and it is God who deserves all glory and praise. Paul describes his affliction as a “messenger of Satan” but describes God’s answer of “no” in this way: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
We all have our afflictions, our aches and pains. Do we take a moment in our daily prayers to consider what purpose(s) they may be achieving for the long term, even eternal, benefit to our lives? We read in Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Please pray with me: “Dear Lord, I know that you love me. You have proven your love for me in many powerful and wonderful ways. I know that you are causing all things to work together for my ultimate benefit, for this is your promise to me. Please Lord, show me how you are blessing me today through these challenges in my life. Show me how I am blessed through the pain, how I am being guided through hardships. I trust you Lord with all of my heart, and I thank you Lord for your blessings. I praise you Lord for your patience with me when you hear me complaining about those lessons you have given for me to learn. I thank you Lord, for all things, I thank you.” Amen.
Vern