This phrase has become part of the English lexicon, and is often used in casual conversation, but it has deep roots. It is generally referred to as an impediment which prevents us from doing something the way we want to, or forces us to slow down unwillingly, or makes progress difficult. From a spiritual perspective, it is a tool used by God to protect us from ourselves, and which prevents us from becoming a horrible version of ourselves, by enforcing a level of humility.

There are at least two biblical references to being struck by an infirmity as a result of arrogance. The first is the story of Jacob, later called Israel, who had a long history of deceit and arguing with God Himself. Hosea 12:3,4 says that Jacob started life by holding onto the heel of Esau, his twin brother, who would be viewed as the firstborn, and therefore enjoy the benefits…during birth. We know that Jacob was his mother’s favourite, and with her help, deceitfully obtained the firstborn blessings from his almost blind father Isaac, as described in Genesis 27. Later in the story of Jacob, Genesis 32:22-32 describes an event when Jacob wrestled with an Angel of The Lord all night stubbornly and without respite. When The Angel saw that He would not prevail, He struck Jacob’s hip, and from sunrise Jacob walked with a limp.
Fast forward roughly 4 000 years, and we read in Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians 12:7-9, an account of Paul, after having had an out-of-body experience and having had a view of Paradise, “was given a thorn in the flesh, lest I become exalted above measure”. Despite asking The Lord three times to remove it, God did not grant his request. We don’t know exactly what that ‘thorn in the flesh’ was, but we know that it was ongoing and for a specific purpose. In this context, it was not God’s plan to elevate Paul’s status in the eyes of his followers, but rather for him to be as convincing and persuasive a teacher despite his infirmity. Paul would be forced to rely on God’s strength rather than his own.

Fast forward another 2 000 years, one evening in 1974, I was given a thorn in the flesh. The week before, I had represented an old-boys team playing rugby against our school’s first team. I had been almost marked out of the game because of my historic speed with ball in hand. Nevertheless, during a routine tackle I had landed on my knee, and this had caused some swelling. Nothing to worry about. A week later, I was representing the French Bank in a league soccer match. In retrospect, I should not have been playing a soccer match so soon after the injury, if I had exercised caution. But this was not in my vocabulary. Without properly warming up, I started the game at full speed, and during a sudden move to change direction, I tore the cruciate ligaments in my left knee.

That moment altered the course of my sporting life for ever. I had never intended to become a professional sportsman, because it was not a sustainable profession then, and I probably was not naturally gifted enough. But I was certainly good enough to have played any number of sports at a high amateur level. Suddenly I had to forget about playing soccer, tennis or squash in any competitive way. Every time I ‘forgot’ about the injury, I would dislocate the knee, until the message became clear that this was permanent. I had two surgeries about a dozen years apart, merely to clean up the knee. I continued a life of high activity, doing whatever the injury would allow. No jerky movements. For many years I was able to jog, hike and cycle., but all the time the knee was deteriorating.

Miracle.
BY the end of the 1990’s, about 25 years after the initial event, my left leg had become bowed. I attended a Sunday service during which the pastor, feeling an anointing midway through his sermon, called anyone with a sore neck to come to the front of the auditorium for prayer. About ten of us responded, and as I was making my way, the pastor called for someone to bring a chair for me. I had a sore neck because I had had a bicycle crash some days before. I also knew from prior experience that by making me sit in the chair, he would find one leg shorter than the other, and this would be the reason for my sore neck. I remember clearly thinking that my pastor was missing it, but sat down anyway. After he had finished praying for the others, he knelt in front of me, lifted my feet, and of course one leg was shorter than the other. I kept my eyes closed as he prayed, and I kept saying to myself that my pastor was missing it. When he finished praying, I went back to my seat, and the service carried on.
A few days later, as I was shaving my legs (remember that I was a cyclist of good standing), I realised that my leg was straight. God had used my pastor’s faith, despite my unbelief, to display His grace, as well as the power of the laying on of hands. There was simply no possibility of coincidence. This was God showing up and delivering despite my scepticism. My leg was straight and it delayed any further surgery for many years.

Another quarter of a century later, and I have had the necessary surgery; a total knee replacement, which the Lord has used to allow further introspection, and the discovery of a ‘not so dormant’ spirit of arrogance. For further reference, please read my article ’The Disease of Arrogance’, also on this website.

God used a defective knee and several other circumstances to keep my arrogance under some control for my entire adult life, and I am grateful. I remained only an average but keen sport enthusiast so I could never boast about my performance. I do not know what would have become of me if I had been let loose, or the people who I would have harmed. God saved me from myself for purposes still being revealed.

I do not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished in me, as an instrument for His glory.
I trust that you have a better understanding of some defect or imperfection in your life. Seek the Lord’s face and allow Him to use it for your good. Amen.