THORNS

Judges 2:2-3 – And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; but you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? So now I say, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as THORNS in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

I don't know about you but this verse sends a wave of sorrow and remorse over me, not to mention a healthy dose of reverential fear. This is one of those black and white parenting types of scriptures where God tells His children to do something, no questions asked.

As a loving Father, God tells us what to keep away from, for our own good by the way, with a quick reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Again, we have a choice in the matter – obey and receive God's blessings and hand of protection or disobey and receive His judgment and ensuing consequences.

The thorn in this verse can refer to any number of things. Let me give you an example from my own life. God has told me personally to keep alcohol out of my body – period. For many years I blatantly disobeyed Him reasoning and debating (arguing) the point, and thus experienced many a thorn, to say the least, in my life. That substance became a god and subsequently an idol that I would later go on to worship. However, because we serve a loving Father who abounds in grace and mercy, the moment I repented of my behavior and turned from it He restored me over and beyond what my previous state had been.

For each of us God has spoken specific instructions in our lives. Some are general, blanket commands such as the Ten Commandments while others are more personal and have much to do with our individual personalities and purposes in life. Whatever the case, if we refuse to remove the foreign gods, idols, addictions, and hindrances from our lives we can be sure these very things we cling to and worship will become a living nightmare, an aching thorn, and a snare to trap us. Ask the Great Physician today to remove what's ailing you.