Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THORNS

 THORNS

In the dictionary a thorn is described as a sharp pointed aborted branch, something that wounds, annoys, or causes discomfort*. This is why the Bible often refers to circumstances as being “thorns in your sides” (Judges 2:3) or “thorns in your eyes” (Joshua 23:13). The image portrayed is one of pain and discomfort caused by the presence of something sharp in a place where it should not be.

In addition to pain, thorns may also imply entrapment and inability to function. God said there would be problems for man when He cursed the ground and said “…thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you…”(Genesis 3:18) and as a result, Jesus, when referring to a parable about  sowing seeds, said  “…some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop” (Mark 4:7).

The concept of thorns in the Bible has always been used as a symbol and means of impediment to man. In Joshua, the remnants of the nations that remained in the land God promised “…shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you” (Judges 2:3).

Although thorns can imply pain, they also can mean a relief from pain as well. In Genesis, the pain suffered by Abraham when he felt he would have to sacrifice his son to God was relived when the ram was found caught in the thicket or thorn bush and was used for the sacrifice instead of Issac. In the same way, some people are caught by thorns. Proverbs puts it this way: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them” (22:5). Jesus, in the parable of the sower, explained in this way:

…the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 

Now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience

(Luke 8:11-15)

So thorns can imply entrapment, pain, or problems ever since God cursed the ground. He said it would bring forth thorns and thistles that would eventually become difficulties in your bodies, sight, and relationships. But by snaring the ram in the thorns, God took away Abraham’s pain that would have been had with the sacrifice of Issac. In coming to Moses in a thorn bush that wasn’t consumed by fire, He eventually took away the fear that Moses had in the need to confront Pharaoh. And by accepting the crown of thorns from the Roman solders, Jesus took away the sins and fears of humanity.

The thorns that God cursed the ground with in Genesis were literally taken away by Christ at His crucifixion.

Small details but all are important in the Word of God.

Just something to think about. 

*Dictionary.com