Two-Minute Manna

From 2 Chronicles 11:17, we know that Rehoboam, king of Judah, walked in the way of his grandfather, David, and honored the Lord - until he became strong. Then he forgot the Lord.

An elephant and a flea walked over a creaky wooden bridge. When they reached the other side, the flea said to the elephant, “Wow! We sure made that bridge shake, didn’t we?” Rehoboam had that same mentality. And so can we. We walk with the Lord. God’s blessing is poured out, and we begin to think, “We sure did something great, didn’t we, Lord?” Are you in that place? Be careful. It’s when we’re doing well that we’re most vulnerable.

When Paul had a vision of Heaven, the Lord sent a thorn in the flesh to buffet him. “Lord,” he prayed, “take this thorn from me.”

“Lord, remove this thorn from me,” he prayed a second time.

After he prayed the same prayer a third time, the Lord said, “No, Paul. My grace is sufficient for you, for when you are weak, then you will be strong.”

Paul went on to glory in his weakness, saying, “If God has to keep me weak that I might be dependent upon Him, so be it. I do not want to be strong if it means I’ll be independent of Him” (see 2 Corinthians 12).

Why has God sent you a thorn in the flesh? Maybe it’s a person. Maybe it’s a physical problem or a situation that pokes and prods. It is very possible that its purpose is to keep you from making the mistake of Rehoboam, the mistake of relying upon yourself.