God’s ways and thoughts, not mine
Acts 23:23-35
23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor:
26 “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!
27 “This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. 28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. 29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. 30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”
31 So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. 32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. 34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.
35 “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.
In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says,
‘“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’
Here, we see this in action.
Paul had been attacked by some Jews in Jerusalem (21:27-22:29), been questioned by the Sanhedrin (Jewish authorities) (22:30-23:10) and been imprisoned. While there, the Lord encouraged him, saying “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also you must also testify in Rome.” Then, because of a plot to kill him, Paul was transferred to Caesarea and put under guard in Herod’s palace.
This could all be seen as a disaster. Paul had gone to Jerusalem with good intentions, to encourage the brothers and leaders there, but this has resulted in an ugly crowd accusing him, a riot in the Sanhedrin, a plot against his life and a transfer to Caesarea where he ended up being in jail for at least two years. I think most of us would struggle with this episode if it were our lives! But this was all part of God’s plan. If we look at it through God’s eyes, we see a faithful disciple testifying about Jesus in Jerusalem, before the Sanhedrin, and later to Governor Felix, Governor Festus, King Agrippa and eventually in Rome as the Lord had told him he would do.
I am challenged to look at events in my life through God’s eyes, not my self-centredness. How can what’s happening to me at the moment be used for the kingdom of God? What opportunities do my current circumstances afford me? What would God have me say and do in my situation?
Lord, nothing is wasted in your kingdom, Please help me to see events in my life through your eyes – to see the opportunities they bring rather than the discomfort or unease they may cause me. Please help me, like Paul, to use what seems bad for witness instead. Amen
Written by Megan Cornell