Why couldn't God allow Paul to be exalted after his revelations?

Les explains that the danger was that people would exalt Paul as the pagans did their gods and goddesses, making statues and idols, and God could not have that. In verse 7, to make sure Paul never forgot, God gave him a thorn in the flesh, so that he would not be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations. Those revelations included the doctrines of grace, the Gospel, church age teachings, and a glimpse of glory. God did not want Paul to get the big head or become proud, so He gave the thorn to keep him humble. The Greek implies this thorn was like being crucified—a constant pain, as if he was constantly suffering crucifixion.