Page 58 - The Gate and the Way

Micah 4:6-7
"In that day," declares Yahweh, "I will assemble the lame and gather the outcasts,
even those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant and the
outcasts a strong nation, and Yahweh will reign over them in Mount Zion from now
on and forever.”

The highlighted portion of this passage states plainly that Yahweh is intentionally,
deliberately, and with great purpose, choosing to afflict those called to be overcomers in
Christ. The ways in which Yahweh will afflict a man or woman are varied. The apostle Paul
was given to the body of Christ as an example of a man who was brought to spiritual
maturity through suffering. I have previously cited Scriptures where Paul spoke of being
stoned, beaten, whipped, chained and imprisoned. Paul also suffered the experience of
being shipwrecked. Storms are a natural part of the suffering the creation has been
subjected unto. God does not spare His sons and daughters from passing through storms,
but He has promised to walk with us through them. Yahweh sustained Paul through
repeated shipwrecks.
Paul also experienced another type of natural suffering: sickness. Paul had a severe
affliction of his eyes that left him nearly blind. This affliction was evidently something that
marred his appearance, for Paul described it as a trial to those who observed him in this
state.

Galatians 4:13-15
But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you
the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not
despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Yahshua
Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness, that
if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

Did Paul have some loathsome condition, something difficult to look at? I believe it
is very possible, for that affliction God sent to Paul was intended to keep him humble. That
which keeps us humble is humiliating. Paul had been used of God to heal myriads of people,
but he could not heal himself. Three times Paul requested that Yahweh remove this
affliction from him, but God would not do so.

II Corinthians 12:7-10
And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep
me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of
Satan to buffet me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the
Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will
rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with
persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am
strong.

A thorn in the flesh is another way of saying “a bodily affliction.” Yahweh afflicts the
bodies of His sons and daughters in many ways. I was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta,