Who answered Paul when he asked three times for the thorn to be removed?
The Lord Jesus Himself answered Paul after he besought the Lord three times that the thorn might depart. He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” This response centered on sufficient grace and strength perfected in weakness rather than the requested removal.
Les teaches that Paul’s thorn in the flesh is not claimed to have only one answer, but the logical explanation he gives is a common eye disease of that period—repulsive in appearance, painful, limiting his eyesight, and causing him to dictate his letters, seemingly except Galatians, and to write in huge block letters so he could read. In II Corinthians chapter 12, verse 8, Paul says he besought the LORD thrice, or three times, that this thorn in the flesh, this constant buffeting by an angel of Satan, might depart from him. Verse 9 then identifies the one who answered: “And he, the Lord Jesus himself, said, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Les connects this to Christian service, explaining that God keeps the servant humbled and that the work must be done as a weak vessel God has seen fit to use, because the moment we think we can do it ourselves, we are all done.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.